Single-Stroke Dollar ($) vs. Double-Stroke Dollar ($ / Cifrão)
The single-stroke ($) and double-stroke ($) symbols represent typographical variations of the same fundamental lineage, with the double-stroke holding specific historic decimal meaning in Lusophone nations.
$
Single-Stroke Dollar
USD / CAD / AUD- Standard modern Unicode character (U+0024)
- Predominant in all modern digital fonts and operating systems
- Direct evolution from the Spanish peso abbreviation Pˢ
VS
$ (Cifrão)
Double-Stroke Dollar / Cifrão
CVE / Historical BRL, PTE- Dedicated Unicode character for Cifrão exists as stylistic variation
- Historically used in Portugal, Brazil, and Cape Verde as decimal marker (e.g. 20$00)
- Popularized by the Pillars of Hercules on Spanish silver dollars
Comprehensive Comparison & Historical Context
The double vertical bar is frequently mythologized as representing "U" superimposed on "S" for United States, but historical manuscripts prove the symbol was in use decades before the United States existed. The double bar arose from the Spanish Pillar Dollar, depicting the twin Pillars of Hercules wrapped with a banner.
Summary Matrix
| Attribute | Single-Stroke Dollar | Double-Stroke Dollar / Cifrão |
|---|---|---|
| Official Symbol | $ | $ (Cifrão) |
| ISO 4217 Code | USD / CAD / AUD | CVE / Historical BRL, PTE |
| Dedicated Page | View USD / CAD / AUD Details → | View CVE / Historical BRL, PTE Details → |