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From: hrs@homxb.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.std.internat,sci.lang
Subject: Re: Origin of "$", hopefully the last word!  (was: Re: Computers and human languages (was Re: What is a byte))
Message-ID: <985@homxb.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 7-Sep-87 21:36:23 EDT
Article-I.D.: homxb.985
Posted: Mon Sep  7 21:36:23 1987
Date-Received: Wed, 9-Sep-87 00:54:29 EDT
References: <218@astra.necisa.oz> <8461@utzoo.UUCP <1364@sirius.UUCP> <1987Sep6.163621.26194@sq.uucp>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Holmdel
Lines: 11
Xref: utgpu comp.std.internat:213 sci.lang:1239
Summary: Real meaning of dollar


Apart from the origin of the "$" sign, the name dollar comes from the
germanic thaler, a coin used in central Europe for a long time.
The coin was widespread, and aoften had specific designations, such
as Maria Theresiathaler. In Dutch it was called the daalder, and a
later one the rijksdaalder, which was worth Fl. 2.50, or two and 1/2
guilders. In pre-war times, when currencies were more stable, the value
of the rijksdaalder was exactly one dollar!  Also note the abbreviation
Fl. for the guilder.  It stands for Florin, buit means guilder (gulden).

Herman Silbiger  ...!ihnp4!homxb!hrs