The Secret Symbols on the Back of the Dollar
The Secret Symbols on the Back of the Dollar
US Dollar Symbols and Denominations
By Kimberly Amadeo Updated August 19, 2019
The U.S. dollar is the most powerful currency in the world. It's backed by the world's third-largest economy, the United States of America. The strength of the U.S. economy supports the dollar's use as a global currency. The U.S. dollar was first designated the world's currency in the 1944 Bretton Woods Agreement.
The term U.S. dollar refers to a specific denomination and to the U.S. currency in general. It was initially traded as a coin worth its weight in silver or gold. Then it was exchanged as a paper note redeemable in gold. In the 1970s, the gold standard was dropped and the dollar's value was allowed to float. Today, although its value fluctuates, it's in strong demand.
Although the dollar is still represented by currency, its true value is represented by credit. Now more than ever, the U.S. dollar is the real symbol of faith in the power of the U.S. economy.
U.S. Dollar Symbols
The $ symbol itself is derived from a combination of the P and S for Mexican pesos, Spanish piasters, or pieces of eight. This theory is based on the study of old manuscripts. They show that the $ symbol was widely used before the United States started using the dollar in 1785.
There has been a great deal of controversy surrounding the enigmatic symbols on the U.S. dollar. In fact, the Founding Fathers used the symbols to convey strong messages. They have gotten garbled through the years.
The dollar bill shows the Great Shield of the United States, which contains:
The American eagle flying free, holding 13 arrows of war in its non-dominant left talon and an olive branch for peace in its dominant right talon.
The banner in its beak reads "E Pluribus Unum" meaning “Out of Many, One.”
The shield's horizontal blue band represents Congress uniting the original 13 colonies. These are represented by 13 red and white vertical stripes.
Thirteen stars above the eagle represent a new nation or a constellation in the universe.
Red stands for valor, white stands for purity, and blue stands for justice.
On the reverse of the Great Seal stands an unfinished pyramid of 13 rows, symbolizing strength and duration. The first row reads "1776" in Roman numerals. The banner below reads "Novus Ordo Seclorum" which means "A New Order of the Ages." This refers to a new form of government or "the beginning of the new American Era."
The all-seeing eye of the Divine is bordered by the phrase "Annuit Coeptis." This means "Providence Has Favored Our Undertakings." (Source: “Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia,” Symbols on American Money.)
Dollar Denominations
There are 18 denominations in U.S. coins and bills.
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