A work colleague's daughter asked him why we put the dollar sign in front of the number as a convention, but not other measurements.
For example: $2, $10 for money amounts
But 2m, 10m for lengths?
Why not 2$ and 10$.
I think that's a question to be posed to the Brits. We just follow the way it's always been done. eg £2 10s 6d. That's my explanation anyway.
I reckon Sap will have a better answer though. :winkextra:
I think it has something to do with the 8 reales and the dollar signs on them ...
found this
The Question:
Where did the dollar sign originate?
The Answer:
Based on the study of old manuscripts, it appears to have originated with an abbreviation for "pesos." In revolutionary times—before the United States was independent, let alone printing its own currency—the Spanish dollar was widely used in the colonies. Spanish dollars were also called also known as pesos de 8 reales, or pieces of eight, and "pesos" was abbreviated "ps." Over time, the "p" and "s" overlapped and merged, forming what we now know as the dollar sign, $.
Similarly, the word "dollar" comes from the Spanish dollar.
For more information, see the U.S. Bureau of Printing and Engraving site, and Cecil Adams's explanation of the dollar sign.
—The Editors
Cecil Adams's explanation of the dollar sign
So much for the tomfoolery; now to get serious. Professor Cajori contends that the dollar sign is an abbreviation for "pesos." Bear in mind that the Spanish dollar, also known as the peso de 8 reales, was the principal coin in circulation in the U.S. up until 1794, when we began minting our own dollars. In handwriting, "pesos" was usually abbreviated lowercase "ps," with S above and to the right of the P and with the hook on the latter written with one or two deep strokes. As time went on, the P and the S tended to get mashed together and the result was $.
The simple and somewhat circular answer is, "We put the dollar sign first because that's where we were taught to put the dollar sign". Anyone old enough to remember the decimal changeover TV ads here in Australia will remember Dollar Bill telling us to put the $ sign first.
Some other cultures do things the other way around; the pre-euro currency of Portugal, the escudo, also used the $ sign (though in Portugual and its former colonies the sign, called the cifrao, is always written with two vertical strokes), but they placed it after the amount, using it as a substitute for the decimal point. Thus the 2½ escudo coin bears the denomination "2$50". But they are unusual in so doing.
The internet consensus for the reason why most cultures put the $, £, eurosign or whatever first is that it minimizes the chances of fraud. Suppose I have an invoice for eighty dollars, and I wish to fraudulently pad my alleged expenses. If the bill says "$80", then it's hard for me to try to fudge in an extra digit between the "$" and the "8". But if the bill says "80$", then it's fairly easy for me to make it say 180$, or 580$, or 32,780$.
Quote from: 'robbiegal' pid='82200' dateline='1449226733'I think it has something to do with the 8 reales and the dollar signs on them ...
found this
The Question:
Where did the dollar sign originate?
The Answer:
Based on the study of old manuscripts, it appears to have originated with an abbreviation for "pesos." In revolutionary times—before the United States was independent, let alone printing its own currency—the Spanish dollar was widely used in the colonies. Spanish dollars were also called also known as pesos de 8 reales, or pieces of eight, and "pesos" was abbreviated "ps." Over time, the "p" and "s" overlapped and merged, forming what we now know as the dollar sign, $.
Similarly, the word "dollar" comes from the Spanish dollar.
For more information, see the U.S. Bureau of Printing and Engraving site, and Cecil Adams's explanation of the dollar sign.
—The Editors
Cecil Adams's explanation of the dollar sign
So much for the tomfoolery; now to get serious. Professor Cajori contends that the dollar sign is an abbreviation for "pesos." Bear in mind that the Spanish dollar, also known as the peso de 8 reales, was the principal coin in circulation in the U.S. up until 1794, when we began minting our own dollars. In handwriting, "pesos" was usually abbreviated lowercase "ps," with S above and to the right of the P and with the hook on the latter written with one or two deep strokes. As time went on, the P and the S tended to get mashed together and the result was $.
One explanation I was told... was that it came from the Spanish Colonial Real silver coin, with ribbons around the Pillars of Hercules.
As to why it was in front, found this explanation on reddit... it was for fraud prevention. If you write 10$. Then someone can put more digits in front of it. Like 110$. If you put the dollar sign in front and decimal point & cents after it then they can't change the figure. Like $10.00. No idea if it's the reason, but it sounds plausible.