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Message:: [QUOTE="lordmarcovan, post: 2684587, member: 10461"]Both are correct. AU, the chemical symbol, actually has its root in "AV". Both are from the Latin aurum, I believe.  The Romans did not use a letter "U".  So it's an old tradition; a classical style thing.  This is why you'll sometimes see inscriptions like "COVRT HOVSE" on some neoclassical buildings.  (Here in my city, it's the DVNWODY BVILDING). In numismatics, particularly ancient numismatics, or among Europeans like Panzerman here, you will often see people use the old-style abbreviations: AV=gold, AR=silver, AE=copper and/or bronze. But in US numismatics, one need look no farther than the Peace dollar to see that seemingly odd "V-for-U" thing.  (It was popular in the 1920s.) Another Latin holdover is sometimes seen in hardware stores. And this one is even weirder.  A "10d" nail is a tenpenny nail.  Up until the 1970s, the Brits used a small "d" to abbreviate "penny".  Why?  Again, it's Latin.  Denarium, or denarius. So there is probably more explanation than you wanted.  You aren't ignorant.  It's just a rather esoteric tradition, as old traditions can be.[/QUOTE]