¢
Cent Sign
The cent symbol (¢) represents the monetary unit equal to one hundredth of various currencies, most commonly the US dollar. It is widely used in financial transactions, pricing, and economic documentation throughout North America.
Technical Details
- ASCII Code
- 162
- HTML Entity
- ¢
- Hexadecimal
- 0xA2
- Binary
- 10100010
- Octal
- 242
Usage & Examples
Programming
char symbol = '¢'; // ASCII 162HTML/Web
¢ or ¢Common Uses
How to Type This Character
Windows
Mac
💡 Pro tip: The fastest way is to bookmark this page or copy the character from our ASCII library!
Related Characters
About the Cent Sign
Monetary Significance
The cent symbol represents fractional currency units in the decimal monetary system, specifically 1/100 of the base unit. It enables precise pricing and accounting for small-value transactions and is fundamental to retail commerce and financial record-keeping.
Modern Usage
Commonly used in pricing labels, financial software, accounting systems, and retail displays throughout countries using dollar-based currencies. While physical cent symbols are less common in digital transactions, they remain important for precise financial documentation.
Technical Details
The cent symbol appears as ASCII code 189 in IBM Code Page 437 and Unicode U+00A2. It consists of the letter 'c' with a vertical line through it, though typographic variations exist with forward slashes or other line orientations.
Regional Variations
While primarily associated with US and Canadian currencies, the symbol has historical usage in other decimal currency systems. Some regions use alternative cent notations or have replaced cent symbols with decimal point notation.
History of the Cent Sign
US Decimal Currency System
The United States adopted a decimal currency system under the Coinage Act, establishing the cent as 1/100 of a dollar. This revolutionary departure from British pounds/shillings/pence influenced global currency design.
First US Cent Coins
The first official US cent coins were minted, establishing the cent as a fundamental unit of American commerce. Early coins bore the inscription 'ONE CENT' and helped popularize decimal currency concepts.
Canadian Decimal Currency
Canada adopted decimal currency with cents as subdivisions, following the US model. This standardized the cent across North America and influenced other countries transitioning from colonial currencies.
Symbol Standardization
The cent symbol (¢) became standardized in business typography and accounting practices. Typewriter manufacturers began including the symbol, making it accessible for commercial documentation.
Computer Integration
IBM's Code Page 437 included the cent symbol as character 189, enabling its use in early computer systems for accounting software, point-of-sale systems, and financial applications.
Cultural Impact
The cent symbol represents the democratization of commerce through decimal currency, enabling precise small-value transactions and contributing to the development of modern retail pricing strategies and consumer economics.
Usage Examples
Retail Pricing
ExampleTraditional retail pricing and promotional displays
Financial Documentation
ExamplePrecise accounting and financial record-keeping
Legacy Systems
ExampleOlder payment systems and municipal services
Accounting Software
ExampleProfessional accounting and bookkeeping applications
Historical Documentation
ExampleHistorical price references and inflation studies