DIDN'T THERE USED TO BE 2 || IN A $ SIGN ?

Yes, Mine still do because it was still worth "ll" when I learned how to write.

 

agreed

 

I have heard that originally it was a "U" superimposed over an "S" which would leave the two lines. Probably the curve at the bottom got outsourced at some point so that left us with just the two verticals and then with inflation cutting in to everything we're now down to just the one.

I could be mistaken, however.

Cheers
Kevin

 

This might be my own urban legend.

I always thought that one dollar was S + I

And two or more dollars was S + II ???

Anyways - these days your modern American computer keyboard gives you this: $

Maybe the one slash is better when you fax??

And we have all but done away with our "cent" symbol. C + /

 

That would make sense.
US. United States.

 

http://www.ex.ac.uk/~RDavies/arian/dollar.html

Check out links at bottom of aforementioned page - some interesting reads, including:
Chauncey Lee's suggestion of four symbols for the Federal money created by the Act of Congress of 1786. (Scroll to bottom)
http://www.pballew.net/dollar.html

Bonus cutie & author has too much free time
http://www.geocities.com/levelwater/mathlies13.html