system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: How come Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United States all use the dollar, despite having all been colonies of Britain which uses the pound?

I've always found it odd that those countries don't use the pound.  Did they use the pound when colonies and then switch after gaining independence and of so how long after and why?
gpt
I'll answer for Australia

Australia originally used the British Pound as their currency but in 1910 (not long after federation) converted to using the Australian pound - but still based on the empirical system.

In 1966 Australia decided to decimilise their currency - the new currency was originally called the Royal but this wasn't a very popular name. Dollar was simply chosen out of a list of possible names - not 100% sure why but given that the US was strong economically at the time this was likely to be a big factor in the choice.

In Australia although it's commonly shortened to just Dollar, the currency is actually known as the Dollarydoo (that last part isn't true, but should be)