how did bucks become known for dollars
Why a Dollar is Called a âBuckâ. As with many etymologies, the exact root of this word is difficult to say with one hundred percent certainty. However, the leading theory is extremely plausible and backed up by a fair bit of documented evidence. Specifically, it is thought that a dollar is called a âbuckâ thanks to deer. One of the earliest references of this was in 1748, about 44 years before the first U.S. dollar was minted, where there is a reference to the exchange rate for a cask of whiskey traded to Native Americans being â5 bucksâ, referring to deerskins. At this time, a buck skin was a common medium of exchange.