currencyCode

currencyCode is the three-letter alphabetic code used to identify a currency in financial systems, data exchanges, and software. Defined by the ISO 4217 standard, these codes are typically written in uppercase and are distinct from currency symbols or full currency names. Each code has a corresponding numeric code as part of the same standard, for example USD 840, EUR 978, and JPY 392.

The codes are designed to give a concise, machine-readable identifier for currencies across borders and platforms. Most codes are derived from ISO 3166-1 country codes with an additional letter to distinguish currencies within a country; for instance, USD for United States dollar, GBP for pound sterling, and AUD for Australian dollar. Some codes do not correspond to a specific country, such as EUR for the euro, XAU for gold, or XBT for Bitcoin. The ISO 4217 list also includes codes that cover regional groupings and non-tangible units.

In practice, currencyCode values appear in banking software, payment processing, accounting systems, and APIs to enable accurate monetary calculations, currency conversion, and multi-currency reporting. They are used in formats for electronic funds transfers, financial messaging, and data schemas (for example ISO 20022 and various API specifications) to ensure consistent identification of currencies regardless of local symbols or language.

Changes to the ISO 4217 list can occur over time, reflecting new currencies, changes in national policy, or geopolitical developments. Systems that rely on currencyCode must be maintained to accommodate updates, retirements, or redefinitions of codes.