Pieces of eight coin history books

The shining silver pieces of eight you see on our site. Pieces of eight a history of the world in 100 objects. Mint in 1792, a variety of early american coins were issued by private minters and individual states. Pirate coins, replica doubloons, top quality cast pewter. Pieces definition, a separate or limited portion or quantity of something. Dutch thalers mixed with english pounds, french francs, and spanish gold pieces of eight. One of the better books on the subject of spanish coins, which are the most common treasure ship coins, is a book by sewall menzel called cobs, pieces of eight, and treasure coins. The chief mechanism of inflation today is the ability of the federal reserve system to generate an endless stream of paper currency that. The dollar coin could also be cut into quarters, and two bits became american slang for a quarter dollar, or 25 cents. But some money, and especially coins, is already the stuff of dreams, with names that ring to the magic of history and legend. Hit subscribe and like, if you have ever wondered what size a piece of 8 is.

I live in the carolinas and it is my belief that millions of dollars in pieces of eight will one day be found on a spanish galleon in the shallow coastal waters of north or south carolina. Supposed to be some sort of promotional done with a gift shop in south florida, all the pieces here shown are cast fakes. Persian inscription of value in the diplomatic language of mughal, india x or 10 cash an equivalent of 34 farthing in 1808. Whether you are a coin ring artisan or have just always wanted to see how a ring could be made from a pure silver spanish pieces of eight predator world silver shield 1oz silver pirate coin just. New world treasures specializes in the sales of rare authentic spanish coins, spanish colonial coins, shipwreck treasure coins, shipwreck artifacts, and ancient coin jewelry. Spanish dollars minted between 1732 and 1773 are also often referred to as columnarios. In around 2001, i visited a metal reclamation center in canyon country, california, just before they relocated. Pieces of eight, spanish silver coins of eight reals eight bits, first authorized in 1497.

Volume 8, number 8, february 20, 2005, article 5 menzel books on cobs published the following is taken from the press release. Pieces of eight have been found on virtually all of the beaches of the americas. The numismatic history of the united states began with colonial coins and paper money. The silver 8real coin was known as the spanish dollar, or peso, or the famous piece of eight. Back in the early 70s they were constructing interstate i95 through philadelphia along the river front in center city. Shipwreck jewelry collection mel fishers treasures on. Coin price guides coin grading counterfeit detection coin cleaning numismatic history coin how to investing in coins journal of numismatic research books for kids us coin types early american, half cents, large cents small cents two cents, three cents and twenty cents nickels half dimes and dimes quarters half dollars dollars gold type. The date, either explicitly on the coin or by spanish ruler the method of manufacture, cob or milled the numeric denomination, e. The ugly truth about 8 reales ngc coin collectors chat boards.

There were also gold coins that were generally valued in escudos, however. After the coins were weighed, excess metal was trimmed away by hand. Roughly 400,000 pieces of eight, and 50,000 other reale coins of small change 4 reale and 2 real coins, etc. It is the renowned piece of eight that became part of.

These coins were minted for about 200 years if not longer. The portrait variety from 1772 and later are typically referred to as spanish dollars or pillar dollars. The silver coins were known as reales reals and the gold coins, escudos escudo the. Examples of all silver and gold disneyland and wdw pieces of eight are pictured at the top of this page for comparison. It came with a gurantee from the washington mint that it is an authentic spanish piece of eight. As trade became a global activity for the first time, it became the international currency.

Pieces of eight is the eighth studio album by styx, released on september 1, 1978 like the bands previous album, the grand illusion 1977, it managed to achieve triple platinum certification, thanks to the hit singles blue collar man long nights and renegade. It was widely used in europe, the americas, and the far east. Pieces of eight plays, 8 oneact plays presented in 19821983, by tom stoppard and 7. Silver coins are referred to as pieces of eight and were measured in reales. Make offer 1783 mo mexico city 8 reales silver coin shipwreck coin washingotn mint repack mexico city mint 8 eight reales 1803 f. Aug 15, 2018 the eightreales coin became the most widely used silver piece in the world until late in the 1800s. The silver coins were known as reales reals and the gold coins, escudos escudo the chart below shows the denomination of each coins minted. Also known as pesos and spanish dollars, they were minted in enormous quantities and soon became recognized as a reliable medium of exchange in the european colonies of north america. A history of the world in 100 objects by neil macgregor. Pieces of eight 1985 musical, edmonton, music by jule styne.

Coin collecting is the ideal hobby for those who enjoy studying coins, assembling sets of coins, and searching for rare or unusual coins. Pieces of eight national maritime historical society. The american dollar used today was based on the spanish. History of coins twobits, fourbits, sixbits, eight.

Coin collectors have many different avenues for embarking on the hobby, including building a collection from the coins they find in their pocket change or at the bank, buying coins from coin dealers and at auctions, and searching for coins through metal. Coinquest spanish colonial coins what is my old coin worth. The ugly truth about 8 reales ngc coin collectors chat. For the 8 reales, this has been a problem for over 200 years. Genuine atocha 8 reales coin set in 14k bezel from mel fisher. Robert gives a quick description of what a spanish piece of eight is. The atocha tragically ended her voyage on a reef of the florida keys on september 6, 1622, taking with her 264 souls many of whom were royal blood. Atocha coin bracelet 925 sterling silver coin sunken treasure shipwreck jewelry.

The silver eight real pieces were, of course, the famed pieces of eight of buccaneer lore. The huge galleon served as the command ship, the captains ship or capitana of the 1654 south sea armada, and due to her size and stature, carried the bulk of the fleets treasure. Richard c williams walter holzworth rupert gates dolores fisher mel fisher 1966 first edition hardcover the classic tale of the 1715 spanish plate fleet discovery and salvage work, east coast of florida. In colonial times there was a canal before you got to the ships that the colonial fathers filled in due to it becoming stagnant and foul possibly becoming a health hazard. The nine pieces of eight, often referred to as just pieces of eight, were an important symbol in pirate lore as the items owned by the pirate lords of the brethren court. These old coins included a series of tokens privately issued coins that circulated in public commerce struck by silversmith john chalmers of maryland in 1783. In most cases, these coins are washing ashore from nearby shipwrecks. Pieces of eight were spanish coins pieces of eight may refer to pieces of eight, an album by styx 1978. Since the common exchange rate of silver to gold at the time was about 16 to 1, a 1escudo coin would be worth two of the 8real coins or 16 reales. This is a wellresearched and scholarly effort and very likely to remain the most comprehensive onevolume work in its field for many years to come. In 1980, the caribbean arcade was closed at wdw and the disneyland pieces of eight arcade has become the disneyland pieces of eight gift shop. In fact, it was expected that to make change people literally cut the coins into eight pieces, or bits.

That is too easy to justify as the answer to an esylum quiz answer. Hence, the british called the spanish dollar a piece of eight a coin worth eight pieces, or bits, and something valued at two bits cost a quarter of a dollar. As a matter of fact, the eight reales coin was legal tender in the united states until 1857 and was the worlds most used coin at one time. Cobs, pieces of eight and treasure coins covers the field in its entirety in both text and photos and diagrams as a fully professional work should do. I have become interested in the history and nomenclature surrounding the pieces of eight, aka spanish milled dollar, aka spanish 8 reales coin, aka spanish peso. Were working on new books in the worldcoin arena, and also paper money, exonumia, and american colonials. The term milled refers to the fact that the coin blanks planchets were made on a milling machine and were of consistent weight and size. Hicarer metal pirate coins spanish doubloon replicas pirate treasure coin toys for party favor decorations color set 1, 60 pieces 4.

During the golden age of piracy, spain minted coins in silver and gold. Another excellent book on the subject, but hard to find, is stephen voynicks midatlantic treasure coast coin beaches and treasure shipwrecks from long island to. In the 18th century, american colonists used one ounce silver coins made by the spanish. Treasure from the wreck of the concepcion, sunk at the silver shoals, abrojos reef in the florida straits in 1641. A history of the world in 100 objects is one f the most unusual and engrossing history books to be published in years. Pieces of eight definition and meaning collins english. Pieces of eight, london, with sketches by peter cook. Pirate coins for me a true tale of pirates from 300 years ago.

We offer a large selection of coins in all grades and denominations, each accompanied by the original certificate of authenticity as issued by mels company, treasure salvors, inc. Mar 24, 2011 the amazing history of the most notorious u. Each of the nine pirate lords agreed to hold a piece of eight to be presented during a meeting of the brethren court, though the term came to apply to a variety of items and trinkets as the pirates found themselves short on. Counterfeits, meaning those struck in the same time frame as the genuine issue, used less. The eight reales coin, or piece of eight, was the most common silver coin of late sixteenth and seventeenth century spain. It is dominated by the machinemade milled pieces of eight known as pillar dollars and portrait or bust dollars that followed cobs at the various spanish colonial mints, in addition to their smallerdenomination counterparts minors, but you can also find various world coins at the end of. Dennis tucker speaking at the american numismatic association national money show, february 27, 2020. From the end of the revolutionary war in 1783, until the establishment of the u. They were minted under a number of different kings and at a large nu. Offered are 8 reales coins, commonly referred to as pieces of eight, and 8 escudos coins, often called gold doubloons, many minted at the popular new world spanish. The mission involves collecting the courses eight red coins. Pieces of eight were silver coins made by the spanish. New listing 15981621 spanish shipwreck 8 reales silver coin atocha.

Your question is too general to give you a very specific answer. The spanish dollar coin was worth eight reales and could be physically cut into eight pieces, or bits, to make change hence the colloquial name pieces of eight. I bought this coin from the washington mint back in the middle 1990,s. To make change for an eight reales coin, merchants would cut the coin into smaller pieces. Americans only stopped using foreign money in 1857, when the united states government passed a law forbidding it. The silver eightreal pieces were, of course, the famed pieces of eight of buccaneer lore. The most common piece of eight coin material is metal. An 8 reales silver atocha coin was roughly equivalent to one months pay for a sailor in the 1600s. This page is for all the postcob and noncob silver and copper coins in our inventory. Cobs, pieces of eight and treasure coins, by sewall menzel 496p, over 2000 illus. Any 8 reales cob from any mint can be considered as a strong candidate for a pirate coin.

Atocha treasure coins over 160,000 shipwreck coins, mostly 8 reales issues or pieces of eight, were salvaged along with numerous other historical artifacts. The change might be onehalf four reales, onequarter two reales, or oneeighth one real, also called one bit. The purpose of the piece of eight was to correspond to the german thaler. Nov 27, 20 the spanish milled dollar was a term english speakers gave to the spanish 8 reales that was minted on a coin press from 17321826.

This is the origin of pieces of eight, a familiar phrase in pirate tales. This coin was discovered, along with the ship, nearly 200 years later. Pieces of eight is one of many names for the large silver coins of the king of spain, a multiple of the basic spanish denomination, the silver real. Subsidiary coins four reals half dollar, four bits and two reals quarter dollar, two.

The band members produced and recorded the album like their previous three efforts at paragon studios in chicago with. Coat of arms awarded to the east india company by the english crown in 1698, east india company 1808 around rev. Opened mystery coin collection in storage since 1985. It will also be of interest to historians of the spanish involvement in the americas. What we call pieces of eight are spanish 8 real coins. Thats not to mention whats planned and in the works for 2021, 2022, and beyond. In their quest for treasure, piratesnot just the fictional long john silverwere after silver and gold coins, most of which were silver pieces of eight and the 32real gold doubloon. Americans were used to seeing prices stated in spanish dollars. The coin and currency institute has a website where they offer eight books for sale. Asian merchants counter stamped the pieces of eight to certify them as authentic. During the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries the powers of western europe rapidly expanded setting up colonies overseas and trading across the world. Pieces of eight don ellis octet album, live album recorded 1967, released 2006. Atocha coins, atocha treasure coins recovered by mel fisher. These pieces of eight were worth eight reales and could be fractioned into halves or quarters, as we do today with the modern dollar.

Its only natural that the worlds most popular coins are the target of fraud. Spanish 8 reales, milled and pillar dollars coinsite. Colonial america was awash in coins from all across europe. Get the best deals on 8 reales colonial mexico coins. Huge 8reale silver cob piece of eight struck under philip iv 16211665, potosi, bolivia, assayer t mid1620s, with custom loop at top for wearing as. History of american currency scholastic books for kids. I read that they were sometimes cut in halves, quarters, and eighths to make change, and that has something to do with the name pieces of eight. What is a spanish piece of 8 recovered from the 1715.

Summary to completely identify a spanish colonial coin, you need. Jul 04, 2014 beware the counterfeits, unofficial restrikes and modern forgeries. Money, advertisers assure us, will let us buy our dreams. The atocha tragically ended her voyage on a reef of the florida keys on september 6, 1622, taking with her 264 souls many of.