Mexican Peso Symbol ($)
The Mexican Peso ($ or Mex$) is the official currency of Mexico and the most traded currency in Latin America. It uses the exact same dollar sign ($) as the US dollar, reflecting deep historical connections dating back to the colonial Spanish silver trade.
Dollar Family Disambiguation Guide
Like over 30 currencies worldwide, Mexican Peso shares the universal DOLLAR SIGN (U+0024) glyph. While domestic retail stores write plain $, international financial contracts and software APIs require prefix disambiguation to prevent monetary ambiguity.
| Currency | ISO 4217 | Domestic Notation | International Prefix | Example Formatting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States Dollar | USD | $ | US$ | $100.00 / US$100.00 |
| Canadian Dollar | CAD | $ | C$ or CAD | C$100.00 (EN) / 100,00 $ (FR) |
| Australian Dollar | AUD | $ | A$ or AUD | A$100.00 / AU$100.00 |
| New Zealand Dollar | NZD | $ | NZ$ or NZD | NZ$100.00 |
| Hong Kong Dollar | HKD | $ | HK$ or HKD | HK$100.00 / 港元100 |
| Singapore Dollar | SGD | $ | S$ or SGD | S$100.00 |
| Mexican Peso | MXN | $ | Mex$ or MX$ | $100.00 / Mex$ 100.00 |
Typographic & Developer Encoding Codes
Quickly copy HTML entities, CSS content escape sequences, and Unicode code points for Mexican Peso.
| Format | Value / Code | Description | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raw Symbol | $ | Standard plain text character or abbreviation | |
| Unicode Code Point | U+0024 | DOLLAR SIGN (Basic Latin) | |
| Windows Input / Alt Code | Alt + 36 | Keyboard shortcut for Windows PC | |
| HTML Named / Decimal Entity | $ | HTML5 named character entity | |
| HTML Hex Entity | $ | Hexadecimal HTML character reference | |
| CSS Escape Code | \0024 | For CSS ::before or ::after pseudo-elements |
How to Type Mexican Peso Symbol ($) on Any Device
Windows PC
Hold the Alt key and type 36 on the numeric keypad.
Mac / macOS
Press Shift + 4 on your macOS keyboard.
iPhone & iPad (iOS)
Tap 123 then tap $
Android (Gboard)
Tap ?123 then tap $
Formatting Rules & Real-World Examples
Symbol Placement: Before Amount
In standard financial notation, the Mexican Peso symbol is positioned immediately before the numerical amount.
Typography & International Usage Guidelines
Domestically in Mexico, prices are written simply with '$' before the amount ($100.00). In international contexts, 'Mex$' or the ISO code 'MXN' is prefixed to eliminate confusion with US dollars. Mexico uses a decimal point for fractions and commas for thousands grouping.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Assuming '$' exclusively belongs to the US dollar (the symbol originated from the Spanish-Mexican silver peso).
- Failing to disambiguate Mex$ from US$ in international contracts and travel bookings.
- Confusing the Mexican peso with the Philippine peso (which has a dedicated symbol ₱, U+20B1).
Historical Background & Monetary Evolution
The Casa de Moneda de México, established in 1535, is the oldest mint in the Americas. Its silver 'real de a ocho' (eight-real piece or Spanish dollar) became the premier global trade coin throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. The symbol '$' is widely accepted by historians to have originated from the handwritten abbreviation 'pˢ' for pesos in commercial correspondence during the late 1700s. In 1993, following high inflation, Mexico introduced the 'Nuevo Peso' (MXN) at a rate of 1 new peso = 1,000 old pesos (MXP), dropping the prefix 'Nuevo' in 1996.
Countries & Jurisdictions Using $
Related Tools & Guides for Mexican Peso
ISO 4217 Lookup
Search standard three-letter currency codes and ISO country pairings.
ToolCurrency Formatter
Calculate before/after position styles and international decimal notations.
GuideMac Option Key Shortcuts
How to configure and type international financial marks quickly on macOS.
GuideGoogle Docs & Sheets Guide
Insert special characters and configure currency formats in spreadsheets.
GuideiPhone & iPad Shortcuts
Quick long-press keyboard shortcuts on iOS to type monetary symbols.
SpecsUnicode Technical Standards
Master technical index for U+20A0–U+20CF blocks, HTML entities & CSS codes.
Similar & Related Currency Symbols
View all Peso Currencies (₱, $) →Standards Verification & Official Registry Specifications
This specification has been verified against official international standards registries (ISO 4217 Maintenance Agency, Unicode Consortium 16.0, and Unicode CLDR).
Frequently Asked Questions about Mexican Peso ($)
Common questions and direct answers regarding currency symbols, typing shortcuts, and international formatting.
Why does the Mexican Peso use the dollar sign ($)?
The dollar sign '$' originated historically from the Spanish-American silver peso minted in Mexico and South America. American merchants adopted the Spanish peso and its abbreviation ('pˢ', which merged into '$') before the US dollar even existed.
How to distinguish between US Dollars and Mexican Pesos in invoices?
Use 'Mex$' or 'MXN' for Mexican pesos and 'US$' or 'USD' for United States dollars. For example: Mex$ 1,000.00 vs US$ 1,000.00.
What is the ISO code for the Mexican Peso?
The ISO 4217 three-letter code is MXN (numeric 484). Prior to the 1993 monetary reform, the code was MXP.