Question: Why is the U.S. dollar called the “dollar”?
Answer: The term “dollar” originates from the German word Thaler, itself a shortened form of Joachimsthaler. It is named after the town of Joachimsthal (now Jáchymov in the Czech Republic), where silver coins were first minted in the early 16th century. These coins gained widespread use across Europe due to their consistent silver content and reliability. The name evolved through various languages, becoming “dollar” in English.
