Did you know # 20: Dollar: Why an S barred?

For the most part, the symbols of world currencies have a sign similar to their initials (Fr for France for example). The dollar is all the exception, because it is represented by an "S" crossed out .
This symbol raises several questions and the first; what would be its origin?

Origin of the S barred dollar
Mainly two theories have been established on the origin of the S barred as symbol of the dollar.

First theory: The superposition
According to the first, the abbreviation " United States " is " US " would be the origin of the symbol of the currency of this country. It would then come from the superposition of the "U" and the "S". Due to the typographic constraints, the two bars are obtained after progressive simplification of the "U".
The main limitation of this theory is that it does not take into account the existence and use of this symbol well before the creation of the United States. In addition, the "S" of the dollar symbol contains only one vertical bar and not two. The "U" hypothesis does not fit. Hence the birth of a second theory.

Second theory: The ancient origin
Until the end of the XVIII th century , the United States and Mexico used the piece of 8 Reals as a common currency. Mexico, at that time, was under Spanish rule. During this period, the coat of arms on the coins consisted of two hemispheres. Representing each of Europe and the Americas, they were all framed by the columns of Hercules . These columns are wrapped with "S" shaped banners around the vertical axis and bear the inscription "PLVS VLTRA".

Note that in antiquity, the column of Hercules was the name worn by the cliffs that bordered, at the tip of Spain, the Strait of Gibraltar. Also in the center of the coat of arms are two terrestrial globes that each define the old and the new world (Europe and the Americas), all topped by a royal crown.
The dollar had a symbol S twice crossed out vertically. Gradually, there was the removal of a bar to give today the symbol of the dollar known to all. The S barred dollar would have originated from the coat of arms of Spain. In 1792at the creation of the dollar, this symbol was already used by traders was preserved. Note that many other countries that do not use the dollar use this symbol to reference their currency. There are notably the Brazilian Real , the Chilean peso , the Cuban peso and the Argentine peso .