Today, the dollar sign is a symbol of American power. Learn how this unusual character evolved from colonial currency to the ...

However, it wasn’t until July 6, 1785 that the Continental Congress established the dollar as the official currency of the United States: the first step towards creating a national monetary system.

Despite its ubiquity, the origins of the dollar sign remain far from clear, with competing theories touching on Bohemian coins, the Pillars of Hercules and harried merchants.