What does the S in the dollar sign represent? I read once that it is supposed to be a serpent. Also, what does the C in the cent sign represent? –M.J.R., U.S.A.
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Among the deficient hypotheses: (1) The dollar sign was originally the letters U and S superimposed. The idea here is that the original dollar sign had two vertical lines, not one. Popular though this idea is, there is zero documentary evidence for it. Furthermore, Robert Morris, the Revolutionary War financier and the first U.S. official to use the dollar mark, made it with just a single stroke. (2) It’s a version of the letters IHS, the Greek abbreviation of the name Jesus. I trust no further comment is required. (3) It was originally a P combined with an 8. The dollar, you’ll recall, is descended from the Spanish dollar, also known as the “piece of eight” because it consisted of eight reals. Plausible, but again no documentary evidence. (4) The sign was inspired by the Spanish “pillar dollar,” which on one side had two columns signifying the “pillars of Hercules” at Gibraltar. These were represented in the dollar sign by the two vertical lines, with the S being some sort of scroll wrapped around them.
As for the C in the cent sign, it seems safe to say it stands for “cent.” However, you can never be too careful in this business, so I’m continuing to research the question. If there are any further developments, you’ll be the first to know.
