The Secret Symbols of the Dollar Bill

It is a curious fact that the official symbol for the dollar, does not appear on the bill. The word DOLLAR appears only twice — once on either side of the note.

2. The word dollar came to America from Germany.

The word "dollar is derived from the German "taler. The name "taler was first given to silver coins made in 1519. This metal was mined in Joachimsthal (Joachim's valley, or thaler), in what was then Bohemia.

The obverse of one thaler showed the crucified Christ. On the reverse was the image of a serpent, hanging from a cross.

Near the serpent's head are the two letters NU, and on the other side of the cross, the number 21. This is a reference to Numbers, chapter 21, of the Bible.

In this chapter, we learn of the people of Israel who began to speak against God because of their tribulations and because they feared that they would die in the wilderness. As punishment, God sent against them fiery serpents. These bit many of the Israelites, as a result of which a number died. The people of Israel recognized their sin and begged for forgiveness. God instructed Moses to make a fiery serpent and set it upon a pole. Thereafter, anyone who looked upon that image would be cured. Moses did as he was ordered and raised a brazen serpent on a pole; all those who gazed upon it lived. It is this healing metal serpent that is shown on the reverse of the thaler.

In this image, the pole has become a cross, as the artist wished to draw a parallel between the magical healing power of this brass serpent and the healing power of Christ, who hung upon the cross.

It is this origin that has led some historians toclaim that the thaler image of the serpent-cross is the origin for the dollar sign, $

The idea that the dollar symbol was derived from the cross of Christ was remembered in American literature in 1920, fifteen years before the new dollar bill was designed.

In his novel "Main Street, Sinclair Lewis reports a conversation between "the half-Yank and half-Swede," Bjornstam and the heroine of the novel, Carol. Bjornstam, lamenting the power of bankers, points out that the dollar sign has "chased the crucifix clean off the map." This half-joke would have meaning only for those who knew that the dollar sign, $, had been derived from a crucifix: a few lines later on, Bjornstam admitted that he was a bookworm.

If you think a dollar bill is most interesting for the cup of coffee it can buy, think again. . . .

Elements of the dollar's complex graphic design date back to the Founding Fathers, and most of us are unaware of its deeper meanings. Now an expert on arcane symbolism uncovers the fascinating secret meanings behind the design of the money we use every day.

In The Secret Symbols of the Dollar Bill, David Ovason explores the visual complexity and magic behind the world's most influential currency. Ovason contends that some of the Great Seal's symbols represent the principles of the young republic and that their origins were obscured over time. The dollar bill was more than just currency for our country — it was structured in such a way to demonstrate the nation's place in the world and the classical roots of its fight for freedom.

Presented in a simple format and written with Ovason's trademark lively style, the book invites readers to take up a dollar bill and set off on a visual adventure. Readers will encounter dazzling explanations of the dollar bill's secret contents, from the symbols derived from the Great Seal through the extraordinary strands of numerology interwoven into its structure to surprising hidden alignments.

David Ovason is a recognized authority in the field of arcane symbolism. His research into the dollar bill reveals hidden biblical and classical references, as well as symbols derived from such societies as the Rosicrucians and Freemasons, both of which engage in esoteric thought. So reach into your wallet and prepare for a history lesson unlike any other.

David Ovason has spent more than a decade researching the architecture and zodiacs of Washington, D.C. He teaches astrology and has studied the life and writings of Nostradamus for more than forty years. He is the author of several books, including The Secrets of Nostradamus and Nostradamus: Prophecies for America. Mr. Ovason lives and works in England.