Peso Currency Symbols (₱, $)
Derived from the historical Spanish 'peso de ocho' (pieces of eight) and colonial trade networks, Peso currencies are used widely across Southeast Asia and Latin America.
Philippine Peso (₱) — Unique Typographic Standard
While Latin American peso nations share the standard dollar sign ($), the Philippines possesses its own dedicated Unicode monetary character: ₱ (U+20B1, PESO SIGN). Created by Executive Order in 1903, it features double or single horizontal crossbars through the letter P.
World Peso Currencies Specification Table
| Currency | Symbol | ISO 4217 | Unicode Character | Disambiguation Prefix | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philippine Peso | ₱ | PHP (608) | U+20B1 (PESO SIGN) | ₱ / PHP | Philippines |
| Mexican Peso | $ | MXN (484) | U+0024 (DOLLAR SIGN) | Mex$ / MXN | Mexico |
| Colombian Peso | $ | COP (170) | U+0024 (DOLLAR SIGN) | Col$ / COP | Colombia |
| Chilean Peso | $ | CLP (152) | U+0024 (DOLLAR SIGN) | CLP$ / CLP | Chile |
| Argentine Peso | $ | ARS (032) | U+0024 (DOLLAR SIGN) | Arg$ / ARS | Argentina |
| Uruguayan Peso | $ | UYU (858) | U+0024 (DOLLAR SIGN) | $U / UYU | Uruguay |
| Dominican Peso | RD$ | DOP (214) | U+0024 (Prefix RD) | RD$ / DOP | Dominican Republic |
| Cuban Peso | $ / ₱ | CUP (192) | U+0024 (DOLLAR SIGN) | CUP$ / CUP | Cuba |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions and direct answers regarding currency symbols, typing shortcuts, and international formatting.
Why is the Philippine Peso (₱) the only peso with a unique symbol?
In 1903, under Executive Order No. 66 of the Philippine Commission, Governor William Howard Taft established the dedicated symbol ₱ (a capital letter P with two horizontal bars) to clearly distinguish the newly decimalized Philippine peso from the US dollar ($).
Why do Latin American pesos use the dollar sign ($)?
The dollar sign '$' originated from the Spanish-American silver peso ('real de a ocho' or piece of eight) minted in Mexico and South America during the 18th century. Merchants abbreviated pesos as 'pˢ', which merged over time into the '$' mark.
Which countries currently use currencies called 'Peso'?
The Philippines (PHP, ₱), Mexico (MXN, $), Colombia (COP, $), Chile (CLP, $), Argentina (ARS, $), Uruguay (UYU, $), Dominican Republic (DOP, RD$), and Cuba (CUP, $).
How to type the Philippine Peso sign (₱) on Windows and mobile?
In Microsoft Word, type 20B1 and press Alt + X. On Android or iOS with a Filipino keyboard, tap 123 then select ₱. On other devices, use 1-click clipboard copy.