What currency is used in the United States?

The currency used in the United States is the United States dollar.

The dollar is divided into 100 cents and is identified internationally by the code USD. Its common symbol is $, although US$ is often used when distinguishing it from other dollar currencies. Federal Reserve Notes make up the country’s circulating paper money, while coins are produced by the United States Mint.

The Coinage Act of 1792 formally established the dollar as the United States’ monetary unit. Its value was originally connected to specific amounts of silver and gold, but the dollar became a fiat currency after the United States ended the last formal link between the dollar and gold in 1971.

A common mix-up is confusing the United States dollar with the Canadian dollar or Mexican peso, both of which are used in neighboring North American countries. The U.S. dollar is also widely used internationally and serves as the official currency of several other countries and territories.