A little reason to celebrate
National Dollar Day
History ยท August 8
A look at the US dollar: what the one dollar bill shows, what it is made of, who produces American money, and the stories a dollar carries.
National Dollar Day falls on Sunday, August 8, 2027. That is 285 days away.
The US dollar is the basic unit of American money, divided into one hundred cents. It turns up as a green paper note, a coin and a number on a screen, and most people handle it constantly without ever looking closely.
Take a one dollar bill out and give it a second look. George Washington is on the front. The back carries both sides of the Great Seal of the United States: an unfinished pyramid topped by an eye on one side, a bald eagle on the other. The note is not ordinary paper. It is a blend of cotton and linen, which is why a bill forgotten in a jeans pocket usually survives the washing machine better than the receipt next to it.
Paper notes are printed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, and coins are made by the United States Mint. Dollar coins exist too, though many Americans rarely get one in their change.
A history-minded way to mark the day is simply to pay attention. Lay a few bills from your wallet side by side and compare the designs and security features. Ask an older relative what a dollar bought when they were young. The answers tend to become stories about candy, movie tickets and gas. Some people tuck away a dollar coin or a crisp bill as a keepsake.
Every note carries its own serial number, so the dollar in your pocket is, in a modest way, one of a kind.
Ways to celebrate
- Study a one dollar bill closely and find the eagle and the pyramid.
- Ask an older relative what a dollar bought when they were young.
- Compare older and newer bills from your wallet.
- Look for a dollar coin in your change and keep it.
Dates
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Saturday, August 8 |
| 2027 | Sunday, August 8 |
| 2028 | Tuesday, August 8 |
| 2029 | Wednesday, August 8 |
| 2030 | Thursday, August 8 |
Also on August 8
- National Frozen Custard Day
- International Cat Day
- National Sneak Some Zucchini Onto Your Neighbor's Porch Day
Categories: History days