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What is the difference between 20$ and $20?
Why is the unit of measure placed before the value for currencies? Are there other measures where the unit precedes value?

We express fifty dollars, not as "50$", but rather as "$50". Other units are expressed with a trailing symbol (20¢, 10m, 5kWh, 6oz). Why are dollars treated specially; what's the history behind this?

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marked as duplicate by JSBձոգչ, KitFox, Marthaª, RegDwigнt Aug 3 '11 at 18:34
