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.

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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.