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United States of America
USA Dollar (USD)
Curiosities about the currency
The US dollar is official in: the United States, Ecuador, El Salvador, Panama, Puerto Rico, Haiti, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, East Timor, Zimbabwe, the British Virgin Islands, the Turks and Caicos Islands, Guam, Samoa, and some other overseas territories.
The first types of US dollar ($) were made of silver and were produced in 1794. Subsequently, the Federal Reserve was created in 1913 and, a year later, the first USD banknote appeared. Currently, it is the strongest currency in the world alongside the euro.
The current American dollar banknotes are 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2, and 1. There are banknotes of 10000, 5000, 1000, and 500 that are hard to find and are obsolete. The oldest dollar banknotes are from 1934 and the latest redesigns are from 2009.
The USD coins are cents with their own names: 1 cent (penny), 5 cents (nickel), 10 cents (dime), 25 cents (quarter) and 50 cents (half dollar). There are also one dollar coins, the highest denomination currently issued.
American dollar banknotes have a very short lifespan. The 50 and 100 USD notes can circulate for 8 years in perfect condition, while the 1 USD notes last only 18 months. To make the paper last longer, a compound of cotton and linen is used.
"Dollarisation" is the process of incorporating the US dollar, the most important international reserve currency in the world, into an economic market different from that of its issuing country. This is the reason why many countries in America use it.
What do the banknotes/coins look like?
Front part
*The banknotes and coins correspond to the newest issued series and are for reference. Colours may vary and there may be more designs than those shown.
