1755 One-Half Reales
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centuries Spanish silver coinage was famous throughout the world as the
standard by which other coinages were measured, due to its consistent
weight and purity. The popularity of these coins dates from 1537 when
Charles I set exacting standards for Spanish silver and gold coins. The
Spanish eight reales coin (one dollar) was set at a weight of 423.9 grains (27.47
grams) of .9305 fine silver.
Spanish reales (pieces of eight) were also the most common forms of currency used during America's colonial period. This was particularly true of the Southern Colonies and most especially Virginia... The South preferred Spanish silver, whole and cut, for its small change; the North used coppers. The South's monetary system resembled that of the Caribbean sugar islands, which also had a slave plantation economy; the North's monetary system resembled that of the free economies of Britain, Ireland, and Canada. (Kleeberg, The Colonial Newsletter, Dec. 1998, p. 1868) The 246 year old one-half real pictured above was badly worn from constant use since smaller denominations of the period were in short supply. It was found near a cut 2 reales (two bits or quarter dollar) at an old wagon station that was also used as a Confederate field hospital during the Battle of Ox Hill. |
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reference to holes found in old coins... they weren't used as
jewelry. It was a very common practice to
punch holes in half dimes, 3 cent coins and 1 dollar gold coins and secure them with wire
or thread. The "strung coins" were then usually dropped into a coin purse. In
some cases the coins would also be pinned to the inside of a coat for
easier access.
This practice started in the colonial times (as obviously demonstrated above) when small coins were scarce and easy to lose... |
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