Do you know what denominations Suzie B., Hamilton, sawbuck, or C-note refer to in colloquial English? For U.S. dollars, many nicknames are used that might seem nonsensical at first glance. This article provides an overview of the nicknames for dollar bills and coins, along with explanations of their origins.
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Slang Terms for U.S. Money
💰 “Buck”
One of the most common slang terms is “buck”. It originated from the word “buckskin”, which referred to deer hides. The first documented use of the term “buck” dates back to 1748. Pennsylvania settler Johann Conrad Weiser, often interacting with colonists and Native Americans, noted in his diary that someone was robbed of goods worth 300 “bucks”.
💰 “Greenback”
During the American Civil War, emergency paper currency was issued in 1861–1862, featuring a distinctive green print on the back. These banknotes came to be known as “greenbacks”. This emergency currency was unique in that it was not backed by gold or silver reserves.
💰 Other Slang Terms
“Beans” refers to beans as a basic food during poverty, while “dough” metaphorically alludes to bread.
Through hip-hop and urban slang, the term “duckets” entered the English lexicon, referencing historical ducats, a currency used primarily in Europe. From the gambling world came the term “bones”, initially describing dice made from animal bones.
An older slang term “simoleons” likely originated from a combination of “sim” and “Napoleon”. “Sim” was likely a shorthand for “simpleton”, a slang term for money, while “Napoleon” referred to the historic French coin.
The nickname “smackers” probably stems from “smack”, referring to a loud gesture or the sound of a stack of banknotes being thrown onto a table. The now-obsolete term “spondulix” likely comes from Greek, though its exact origin is unclear.
For denominations in the thousands, “grand” or simply “G” is used. For example, ten thousand dollars is referred to as “10 Grand” or “10 G”.
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Nicknames for Dollar Coins
Nicknames for cent and dollar coins usually originate from their face value or the materials used.
🪙 One-Cent Coin (1¢)
The smallest denomination coin is commonly called a “cent” or “penny”, a term borrowed from the British penny.
Older one-cent coins issued from 1909 to 1958 featured the portrait of Abraham Lincoln on the front and two wheat stalks on the back, earning the nickname “wheat penny”.
🪙 Five-Cent Coin (5¢)
Composed of 75% copper and 25% nickel, the coin is commonly called a “nickel”. The United States Mint began producing nickels in 1866.
🪙 Ten-Cent Coin (10¢)
The coin is frequently called a “dime”.
🪙 Twenty-Five-Cent Coin (25¢)
The most common nickname, “quarter”, derives from its face value of 25 cents, representing a quarter of a dollar. Quarters were widely used in vending machines and laundromats.
The now-archaic term “two bits” dates back to Spanish coins of the early 19th century. One bit represented 12.5 cents, so two bits equaled 25 cents.
🪙 Fifty-Cent Coin (50¢)
The coin’s nickname, “half”, refers to its half-dollar face value.
The coin’s obverse features President John F. Kennedy, inspiring the nickname “Kennedy”. Introduced in 1964 shortly after Kennedy’s assassination, it remains a collector’s item.
🪙 One-Dollar Coin ($1)
Occasionally called “gold dollar” due to its gold-like color.
From 1971 to 1978, a dollar coin featured President Dwight D. Eisenhower, earning the nickname “Ike”.
The nickname “SBA” or “Suzie B.” refers to the Susan B. Anthony dollar, issued from 1979 to 1981 and again in 1999. This coin was unpopular due to its resemblance to a quarter.
In 2000, the Sacagawea dollar was introduced, nicknamed “Sac” after the Native American guide featured on it.
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Nicknames for Dollar Bills
Nicknames for dollar bills often stem from their face value, ink color, or the portrait featured.
💵 One-Dollar Bill ($1)
Commonly called a “single” or “buck”, it is also referred to as “George” after George Washington, whose portrait appears on the front.
💵 Two-Dollar Bill ($2)
Although less circulated, the two-dollar bill is nicknamed “deuce”, meaning “two”. It is also called “Tom” or “Jefferson” after Thomas Jefferson.
💵 Five-Dollar Bill ($5)
The five-dollar bill, known as “fin”, “fiver”, or “five-spot”, is also nicknamed “Abe” after Abraham Lincoln.
💵 Ten-Dollar Bill ($10)
Called “ten-spot”, the term “sawbuck” refers to its resemblance to a Roman numeral X. Another nickname, “Hamilton”, honors Alexander Hamilton, the first U.S. Treasury Secretary.
💵 Twenty-Dollar Bill ($20)
Known as “double sawbuck” for the Roman numeral XX, the twenty-dollar bill is also nicknamed “Jackson” after Andrew Jackson.
💵 Fifty-Dollar Bill ($50)
Nicknamed “fifty” or “Grant”, referring to Ulysses S. Grant.
💵 One-Hundred-Dollar Bill ($100)
Known as “Benjamin”, “Benjie”, or “Frank”, after Benjamin Franklin. The older terms “C-Note” and “C” reference the Roman numeral for 100.
💬 Do you know any other slang terms for U.S. coins or banknotes? Feel free to share them in the discussion.
Discussion (1)
Off the too of my head:
1. A Dollar bill:
A Bone
A White Chip.
A Duck(et) or a
Malard
2. The $2 bill:
A Jeffer or just
Jeff
3 $50. Bill: 1/2 a
Yard
& ,$100. A YARD.