What currency has been the official money of the United States since the Coinage Act of 1792?

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The United States dollar has been the official currency of the United States since the Coinage Act of 1792.

The act established the U.S. dollar as the country’s basic monetary unit and created the United States Mint. It defined the dollar in relation to silver and gold, reflecting the bimetallic monetary ideas common in the late eighteenth century. The dollar’s symbol is $, and its ISO 4217 code is USD.

The Federal Reserve issues United States dollar banknotes, while the Department of the Treasury produces coins through the Mint. One dollar is divided into 100 cents. The dollar is also widely used outside the United States and serves as a major reserve currency.

A common mix-up is confusing the United States dollar with other national dollars, including those of Canada and Australia. Although their names and symbols are similar, their issuing authorities, designs, and ISO codes differ.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Sept. 2026

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