The Michigan Connection: Why Is a Dollar Called a Buck?

The once nice thing about getting older is that every now and then you learn something new and interesting that you had never heard of before.

For me it happened while I was scrolling through social media and saw a post that claimed Michigan had a big part in why we sometimes call a dollar a buck.

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After doing some digging here is what I was able to find out.

The Michigan Connection: Why Is a Dollar Called a Buck?

In Michigan, we have a strong connection to bucks.

Credit: Canva

Hunting is a very popular sport for outdoorsmen in Michigan.

Despite what many think, our state flag doesn't feature bucks, but it does have an elk and a moose, which somewhat tie into this story.

Credit: Canva

So if we don't have a buck on the state flag, what is Michigan's connection to a dollar being called a buck?

Apparently in Michigan's earlier days when we we're just a big territory deer were so common that fur traders would exchange deer skins or pelts as a form of currency.

Another example comes from 1748, where it was said that a cask of whiskey could be traded with Native Americans for "5 bucks", according to USCoinsAndJewelery.com.

I might be a bit biased because I'm a Michigander, but these theories seem very plausible to me.

Unless I hear otherwise, I'm also going to believe that this is why we call a dollar a buck and that Michigan did, in fact, have a small role in it happening.