Browsing by Author "Meiramgul Sarsenbay"

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    What Does Dollar Mean?
    (Suleyman Demirel University, 2007) Meiramgul Sarsenbay
    This paper explores the historical origins, linguistic evolution, and symbolic meanings of the word “dollar” and the dollar sign ($). Money, as one of humanity’s oldest social inventions, did not appear in a single time or place but evolved over centuries across various cultures. The study traces the etymological connections between the American “dollar,” the German “Thaler,” and the ancient Turkic word dala meaning “steppe,” demonstrating how linguistic and cultural influences traveled through Europe to the New World and eventually returned to Eurasia. Furthermore, the research discusses several theories regarding the origin of the dollar sign, including the United States abbreviation theory, the Spanish peso and “piece of eight” theories, and the less common slavery theory. The paper also provides a symbolic interpretation of the U.S. one-dollar bill, revealing how design elements such as the Great Seal and Latin inscriptions reflect the ideals and values of the American nation. Overall, this study emphasizes that currency is not merely an economic instrument but also a cultural and historical symbol reflecting human civilization’s shared heritage.