PaperImperium(@ImperiumPaper):It is a curious fact of history that both the English language and the dollar have enjoyed two periods of being globally dominant. The English language did so through the consecutive hegemonies of the UK and US. The dollar did so through the Spanish silver dollar and the US dollar today (the latter - like the yuan, won, yen, most pesos, most dollars - descended directly from the former), with a brief interregnum for the sterling pound. Both were channeled through the US for round 2, but given the extinction rate of both languages and currencies not descended from a silver coin in 1500s Bohemia, it feels like escape velocity for both has been achieved.

2026.07.19 02:52

It is a curious fact of history that both the English language and the dollar have enjoyed two periods of being globally dominant. The English language did so through the consecutive hegemonies of the UK and US. The dollar did so through the Spanish silver dollar and the US dollar today (the latter - like the yuan, won, yen, most pesos, most dollars - descended directly from the former), with a brief interregnum for the sterling pound. Both were channeled through the US for round 2, but given the extinction rate of both languages and currencies not descended from a silver coin in 1500s Bohemia, it feels like escape velocity for both has been achieved.