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CLOUDY Temp: 45 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Wednesday, February 19, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend January 20, 2003 Since you asked ‘Dollar’ has Low German origins Here’s a $64 question for you. Why the word "dollar" for our currency? And while you’re at it, how about the dollar sign? — Jim and Molly B., Medford What’s it worth to you, Jim and Molly? The word comes from thaler, or in Low German dahler . It meant valley, and is also the source of the English word dale . The name was given to silver coins minted in a renowned valley in the 15th century, and later by extension to others made to resemble them. As far as the vaunted Since You Asked research department has been able to tell, there is no evidence for the oft-repeated story that the $ comes from a U imposed on an S with the bottom of the U erased. A more likely explanation is that the $ morphed into its present form from the 8 that appeared on old Spanish "pieces of eight." They were of about the same value as the dollar. Send questions to "Since You Asked," Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by e-mail to [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy webmaster feedback A D V E R T I S E R S