This is what is shown upon using the /balance command.
Config.yml setting: currency-symbol: ''
Essentials message properties setting: balance=\u00a77You have \u00a7a{0} \u00a77in tears.
I'd like to be able to remove the economy prefix completely, that way you can make the command fully customisable and look a bit nicer too.

currency-symbol: '$' in the config.yml

oh nvm. i see your issue now. rip

This is already possible (added in 6da705c) by editing the currency key in messages.properties.

As {0} is the currency symbol and {1} is the amount, changing the value from currency={0}{1} to currency={1} produces the desired effect: