# What does the $ in the dollar bill stand for? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [August 25, 2011, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-in-the-dollar-bill-stand-for/594003 "2011-08-25T04:16:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![JBDivmstr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b4bc9f/32.png) [@JBDivmstr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JBDivmstr)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2011, 8:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-in-the-dollar-bill-stand-for/594003/42 "2011-09-09T08:38:37Z")
> [@Canadjun](#): > > And I and H and O and 0 … _ **Still,** _ in [nit pick mode] Those are letters/numbers, as opposed to _symbols_. 😛 Just sayin’… ---
**Author:** ![henrylarry6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/57b2e6/32.png) [@henrylarry6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/henrylarry6)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2011, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-in-the-dollar-bill-stand-for/594003/43 "2011-09-12T13:51:16Z")
It’s confusing to understand the origin of $ in US dollar and its embarrassing to have no idea of its actual history. ---
**Author:** ![Lestrade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/94ad74/32.png) [@Lestrade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lestrade)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2011, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-in-the-dollar-bill-stand-for/594003/44 "2011-09-12T18:19:02Z")
> [@Canadjun](#): > > And I and H and O and 0 … Hey, I had “0” first. “H” is down to the font designer. Now I come to look at it, “$” isn’t vertically symmetric in the font I’m using right now. I think it’s Bitstream Vera Sans, if you’re curious. Dammit, I should known better than to trust **Dex** when he has [silly mode] on. ---
**Author:** ![qazwart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/5fc32e/32.png) [@qazwart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/qazwart)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2011, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-in-the-dollar-bill-stand-for/594003/45 "2011-09-13T01:31:33Z")
There’s a reason that the dollar sign is a “$”. The British sold Americans defective typewriters before the Revolutionary war. Unlike the good British typewriters, these were missing the pound sign. Instead, the Americans had to rely on the symbol “$” over the “4” key. And, I have as much evidence to back up my theory as anyone else! ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2011, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-in-the-dollar-bill-stand-for/594003/46 "2011-09-13T04:14:25Z")
> [@qazwart](#): > > There’s a reason that the dollar sign is a “$”. > > The British sold Americans defective typewriters before the Revolutionary war. Unlike the good British typewriters, these were missing the pound sign. Instead, the Americans had to rely on the symbol “$” over the “4” key. > > And, I have as much evidence to back up my theory as anyone else! Not really. You haven’t done the research in old manuscripts. But come back when you have. ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2011, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-in-the-dollar-bill-stand-for/594003/47 "2011-09-13T15:46:44Z")
> [@qazwart](#): > > There’s a reason that the dollar sign is a “$”. > > The British sold Americans defective typewriters before the Revolutionary war. Unlike the good British typewriters, these were missing the pound sign. Instead, the Americans had to rely on the symbol “$” over the “4” key. > > And, I have as much evidence to back up my theory as anyone else! /nitpick I think it was the “B” key! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![JBDivmstr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b4bc9f/32.png) [@JBDivmstr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JBDivmstr)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2011, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-in-the-dollar-bill-stand-for/594003/48 "2011-09-14T06:09:15Z")
> [@qazwart](#): > > There’s a reason that the dollar sign is a “$”. > > The British sold Americans defective typewriters before the Revolutionary war. Unlike the good British typewriters, these were missing the pound sign. Instead, the Americans had to rely on the symbol “$” over the “4” key. > > And, I have as much evidence to back up my theory as anyone else! I think I’m gonna need to see a picture of one of these “good British typewriters”. :dubious: Otherwise I’m calling, B.S.! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![qazwart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/5fc32e/32.png) [@qazwart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/qazwart)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-in-the-dollar-bill-stand-for/594003/49 "2011-09-15T01:32:06Z")
> [@JBDivmstr](#): > > I think I’m gonna need to see a picture of one of these “good British typewriters” [Here’s a famous portrait of King George III](http://dl.dropbox.com/u/433257/george3britain.jpg). King George loved his old Underwood and insisted he’d be painted with it. Most people don’t notice it because it is partly obscured by his left hand. However, if you look carefully, you’ll be able to see it. I also have a picture of him [typing on it too](http://dl.dropbox.com/u/433257/King%20George%20III%20Typing.jpg). Of course, you skeptics will scoff at this evidence, and probably complain that the shadows are all wrong or that you can _see the seam_ where it was cheaply cut and pasted. But, there’s no satisfying certain people. Sure, call me mad. But, they called Eddie mad too, and look at those low, low prices! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-in-the-dollar-bill-stand-for/594003.md?page=2)