#OLD SPANISH COINS PLUS#

The term peso was used in Spanish to refer to this denomination, and it became the basis for many of the currencies in the former Spanish colonies, including the Argentine, Bolivian, Chilean, Colombian, Costa Rican, Cuban, Dominican, Ecuadorian, Guatemalan, Honduran, Mexican, Nicaraguan, Paraguayan, Philippine, Puerto Rican, Peruvian, Salvadoran, Uruguayan, and Venezuelan pesos. Most theories trace the origin of the '$' symbol, which originally had two vertical bars, to the pillars of Hercules wrapped in ribbons that appear on the reverse side of the Spanish dollar.

Many other currencies around the world, such as the Japanese yen and the Chinese yuan, were initially based on the Spanish dollar and other 8-real coins. The Spanish dollar was the coin upon which the original United States dollar was based (at 0.7735 troy ounces or 24.06 grams), and it remained legal tender in the United States until the Coinage Act of 1857. īecause the Spanish dollar was widely used in Europe, America, and the Far East, it became the first world currency by the 16th century. Some countries countermarked the Spanish dollar so it could be used as their local currency. It was widely used as the first international currency because of its uniformity in standard and milling characteristics. It was minted in the Spanish Empire following a monetary reform in 1497 with content 25.563 g (0.8219 ozt) fine silver. The Spanish dollar, also known as the piece of eight ( Spanish: real de a ocho, dólar, peso duro, peso fuerte or peso), is a silver coin of approximately 38 mm (1.5 in) diameter worth eight Spanish reales. HISPAN ET IND REX M 8 R I I'King of the Spains and the Indies, Mexico, 8 reales.' Crowned Spanish coat of arms between the Pillars of Hercules adorned with PLVS VLTRA motto Silver dollar of Ferdinand VII of Spain, 1821įERDIN VII DEI GRATIA 1821'Ferdinand VII by the Grace of God, 1821.' Right profile of Ferdinand VII with cloak and laurel wreath HISPAN ET IND REX M 8 R T H'King of the Spains and the Indies, Mexico, 8 Reales.' Crowned Spanish coat of arms between the Pillars of Hercules adorned with PLVS VLTRA motto It was under the reign of this monarch that the United States Mint began the U.S. Silver dollar of King Charles IV of Spain, 1806ĬAROLUS IIII DEI GRATIA 1806 'Charles IV by the Grace of God, 1806.' Right profile of Charles IV in soldier's dress with laurel wreath. 'Ferdinand VI, by the Grace of God, King of the Spains and the Indies'

#OLD SPANISH COINS PLUS#

'Both (are) one, Mexico, 1753.' Displays two hemispheres of a world map, crowned between the Pillars of Hercules adorned with the PLUS VLTA motto.įERDND VI D G HISPAN ET IND REX Silver dollar of Ferdinand VI of Spain, 1753 'Philip V, by the Grace of God, King of the Spains and the Indies'ĭisplays the arms of Castile and León with Granada in base and an inescutcheon of Anjou. 'Both (are) one, Mexico, 1739'ĭisplays two hemispheres of a world map, crowned between the Pillars of Hercules adorned with the PLUS VLTR motto. 'King and Queen of Castile, Leon, Aragon…'ĭisplays the personal emblems of the monarchs: Isabella's yoke and Ferdinand's arrows. Letter S on the left is the sign of the mint of Seville and VIII on the right i.e. ' Ferdinand and Elisabeth, by the Grace of God'ĭisplays the arms of the Catholic Monarchs post 1492, with Granada in base. Silver dollar of the Catholic Monarchs, after 1497

Old spanish coins