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The riel is used as Cambodia's currency. There have been two different riels, the first of which was in circulation from 1953 to May 1975. In the years from 1975 to 1980, there was no monetary system in place. Since March 20, 1980, a second currency with the same name has been in circulation. The riel has been accepted alongside the dollar for retail transactions since the 1990s at the well-known rate of 4,000 KHR/USD. According to popular belief, the name of the currency is derived from the riel, a fish found in the Mekong river. It is more likely that the term comes from the Spanish-American dollar, which was used extensively for international trade in Asia and the Americas from the 16th to the 19th century and has a high silver content and a value of eight reales.