dollars

The dollar is a unit of currency used in several countries. The most widely used is the United States dollar (USD), the official currency of the United States and a global reference in financial markets. The symbol is the dollar sign, and the ISO code is USD. In many countries, the dollar is subdivided into 100 smaller units called cents.

The name dollar has historical roots in the thaler, a large silver coin minted in parts of Europe beginning in the 16th century. The term spread to various currencies, notably the Spanish dollar, which influenced early American coinage and the later development of the U.S. dollar.

In most currencies named dollar today, one dollar equals 100 cents, though coin and banknote denominations vary by country. The United States mints both coins and notes, with the dollar serving as legal tender for all debts, public and private. Monetary policy is conducted by the U.S. Federal Reserve, and the dollar has played a central role in international finance since the mid-20th century.

The U.S. dollar has been the dominant global reserve currency since the Bretton Woods era and remains a common unit of account and benchmark in international trade, commodity pricing, and foreign-exchange markets. The dollar’s international prominence has contributed to its widespread recognition and use in many commercial and financial contexts, often alongside other national currencies named dollar.

Other currencies using the same name include the Canadian dollar (CAD), Australian dollar (AUD), New Zealand dollar (NZD), Singapore dollar (SGD), and Hong Kong dollar (HKD). Each operates independently with its own monetary policy and exchange rate.