$
The United States DollarUSD · ISO 4217 currency code
The US dollar (USD) is the official currency of the United States and several other territories. It is the world's most widely held reserve currency and the most traded currency in global foreign-exchange markets.
Code
USD
Symbol
$ US$
Subunit
Cent 1/100
Issued by
Federal Reserve
Key facts
- Introduced by the Coinage Act of 1792, making it one of the oldest currencies still in use.
- Held as reserves by central banks worldwide and used to price major commodities such as oil and gold.
- Divided into 100 cents; issued as banknotes ($1–$100) and coins (1¢, 5¢, 10¢, 25¢ and more).
- Serves as the primary settlement currency for a large share of international trade and finance.
Why it matters
Because so much of the world's trade, debt and reserves are denominated in dollars, USD acts as a global benchmark — its value influences prices, interest rates and economies far beyond the United States.