Here's the breakdown:
1. Joachimsthaler: It all started in the 16th century in Joachimstal, a mining town in Bohemia (now Czech Republic). This town was known for producing silver coins of high quality, which became highly sought after. These coins were called Joachimsthaler (meaning "from Joachimstal").
2. Thaler: Over time, the name was shortened to thaler. This term became common across Europe to refer to silver coins of similar weight and value.
3. Dollar: The word "thaler" eventually evolved into "dollar" in different parts of the world.
* German: "Taler" became "Daler" in German.
* Dutch: "Daler" became "Daler" in Dutch.
* English: "Daler" was adapted to "dollar" in English, possibly through the Dutch word "daalder".
4. American Dollar: When the United States adopted a decimal currency system in 1792, they decided to use the term "dollar" for their currency. This choice was based on the widespread use and familiarity of the term across the colonies.
So, the journey of the word "dollar" is a testament to the influence of trade, coinage, and linguistic evolution across different cultures and centuries.