diff --git a/src/java/com/samskivert/util/CurrencyUtil.java b/src/java/com/samskivert/util/CurrencyUtil.java
index ad9f81b9..a5e8bcc2 100644
--- a/src/java/com/samskivert/util/CurrencyUtil.java
+++ b/src/java/com/samskivert/util/CurrencyUtil.java
@@ -29,8 +29,8 @@ import java.util.Locale;
 public class CurrencyUtil
 {
     /**
-     * Converts a number representing pennies to a currency display string
-     * using the supplied local.
+     * Converts a number representing pennies to a locale-appropriate currency
+     * display string using the supplied local.
      */
     public static String currencyPennies (double value, Locale locale)
     {
@@ -38,33 +38,30 @@ public class CurrencyUtil
     }
 
     /**
-     * Converts a number representing dollars to a currency display string
-     * using the supplied locale.
+     * Converts a number representing currency in the specified locale to a
+     * displayable string.
      */
     public static String currency (double value, Locale locale)
     {
-        NumberFormat numberFormatter =
-            NumberFormat.getCurrencyInstance(locale);
-
-        return currency(value, numberFormatter);
+        return currency(value, NumberFormat.getCurrencyInstance(locale));
     }
 
     /**
-     * Converts a number representing pennies to a currency display string
-     * using the default local.
+     * Converts a number representing pennies to a dollars display string using
+     * the US local.
      */
-    public static String currencyPennies (double value)
+    public static String dollarsPennies (double value)
     {
-        return currency(value / 100.0, _defaultFormatter);
+        return currency(value / 100.0, _dollarFormatter);
     }
 
     /**
      * Converts a number representing dollars to a currency display string
-     * using the default locale.
+     * using the US locale.
      */
-    public static String currency (double value)
+    public static String dollars (double value)
     {
-        return currency(value, _defaultFormatter);
+        return currency(value, _dollarFormatter);
     }
 
     /**
@@ -76,7 +73,7 @@ public class CurrencyUtil
         return nformat.format(value);
     }
 
-    /** A number format for the default local. */
-    protected static NumberFormat _defaultFormatter =
-            NumberFormat.getCurrencyInstance();
+    /** A number format for formatting dollars. */
+    protected static NumberFormat _dollarFormatter =
+        NumberFormat.getCurrencyInstance(Locale.US);
 }
diff --git a/src/java/com/samskivert/velocity/CurrencyTool.java b/src/java/com/samskivert/velocity/CurrencyTool.java
index 885dc178..13b0f19d 100644
--- a/src/java/com/samskivert/velocity/CurrencyTool.java
+++ b/src/java/com/samskivert/velocity/CurrencyTool.java
@@ -41,6 +41,24 @@ public class CurrencyTool
     /**
      * Converts a number representing dollars to a currency display string.
      */
+    public String dollars (double value)
+    {
+        return CurrencyUtil.dollars(value);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Converts a number representing pennies to a displayable dollars value.
+     */
+    public String dollarsPennies (double value)
+    {
+        return CurrencyUtil.dollars(value);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Converts a number representing currency in the requester's locale to a
+     * display string. <em>Note:</em> you probably want to be using {@link
+     * #dollars}.
+     */
     public String currency (double value)
     {
         return CurrencyUtil.currency(value, _req.getLocale());
@@ -48,6 +66,7 @@ public class CurrencyTool
 
     /**
      * Converts a number representing pennies to a currency display string.
+     * <em>Note:</em> you probably want to be using {@link #dollarsPennies}.
      */
     public String currencyPennies (double value)
     {
@@ -55,14 +74,14 @@ public class CurrencyTool
     }
 
     /**
-     * Velocity currently doesn't support floats, so we have to provide
-     * our own support to convert pennies to a dollar amount.
+     * Velocity currently doesn't support floats, so we have to provide our own
+     * support to convert pennies to a dollar amount.
      */
     public String penniesToDollars (int pennies)
     {
         return "" + (pennies / 100.0);
     }
-    
+
     /** The servlet request we are providing currency functionality for. */
     protected HttpServletRequest _req;
 }