usd

The United States dollar, symbol $, and ISO code USD, is the official currency of the United States and its territories. It is the most widely used currency in international finance and the standard unit of accounts for the U.S. economy. The dollar is issued by the Federal Reserve System, the United States central bank, and coins and paper notes are produced by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. It is legal tender for all debts, public and private.

The dollar originated with the Coinage Act of 1792, establishing a decimal system and the U.S. dollar as the standard unit of account. It was historically tied to a bimetallic standard based on gold and silver. Since the early 1970s, the United States has maintained a fiat currency, no longer backed by a physical commodity.

In everyday circulation, banknotes include denominations of $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100, while coins include 1, 5, 10, 25, 50 cents and a $1 coin. Security features and design elements vary by issue.

Internationally, the dollar plays a central role as a global reserve currency and as the dominant vehicle for international trade and finance. It is frequently used as a unit of account, for currency pegs or informal dollarization, and for pricing commodities. U.S. monetary policy, fiscal developments, and economic indicators influence its value worldwide.