Real coins·18 June 2026·4 min read
The thaler — the coin that gave the dollar its name
The most famous currency in the world traces its name to a valley in Bohemia. How "thaler" became "dollar".
In the 16th century, in a valley called Joachimsthal (today in the Czech Republic), large silver coins called Joachimsthaler — shortened to "thaler" — were minted. They were so respected that their name became generic for a large silver coin across Europe.
From thaler to dollar
The Dutch said "daalder", and from them the word entered English as "dollar". When the United States chose its currency, they used a name already known and trusted in world trade. Thus a silver valley in Bohemia named the most powerful currency of today.
