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The real was a unit of currency in Spain for several centuries.
History
The first real was introduced by King Pedro I of Castile at a value of 3 maravedíes. This rate of exchange increased until 1497, when the real was fixed at a value of 34 maravedíes. The famous Real de a Ocho ("piece of eight") also known as Spanish dollar, was issued that same year, and it later became widespread in America and Asia. In 1566, the gold escudo was introduced, worth 16 reales. A former kingdom in modern-day Spain, Castile (Spanish: Castilla; usually pronounced Cast-EEL in English) now compromises the regions of Old Castile in the north-west, and New Castile in the center of the country. ...
The maravedà was a coin used in Spain for several centuries. ...
The Spanish dollar or peso (literally, weight) is a silver coin that was minted in the Spanish Empire after a Spanish currency reform in 1497. ...
The escudo was the name of two distinct Spanish currency denominations. ...
17th century In 1642, two distinct reales were created, the real de plata (made of silver) and the real de vellón (made of billon, or "less than half silver"). The exchange rate between these two coins was set at 2 reales de vellón = 1 real de plata. The maravedí was tied to the real de vellón, causing the real de plata to be worth 68 maravedíes. The gold escudo was worth 16 reales de plata. General Name, Symbol, Number silver, Ag, 47 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 11, 5, d Appearance lustrous white metal Standard atomic weight 107. ...
Billon is an alloy of a precious metal (most commonly silver, but also gold) with a majority base metal content (such as copper). ...
18th century The real de plata fuerte was introduced in 1737 at a value of 2½ reales de vellón or 85 maravedíes. This real was the standard, issued as coins until the early 19th century. The gold escudo was worth 16 reales de plata fuerte.
19th century In 1808, coins were introduced denominated in real de vellón. These coins circulated alongside real de plata fuerte and escudo coins until decimalization. Coins denominated in reales de plata were minted until 1837, whilst maravedí coins were issued until 1850.
Decimalization The real de vellón, now just called the real, was adopted as the chief unit in Spain's first decimal currency, introduced in 1850. To begin with, subsidiary pieces were issued denominated in decima de real (tenths of a real). Later they were denominated in céntimo de real (hundredths of a real). The real replaced the Catalan peseta in 1850, at a rate of 1 peseta = 4 reales. The peseta was a unit of currency in Catalonia until 1850, when the whole of Spain decimalized. ...
In 1864, the real was replaced by a new escudo worth 10 reales (i.e., not equivalent to the earlier escudo). This second escudo was itself replaced in 1868 by the peseta at a rate of 1 peseta = 0.4 escudos = 4 reales. Consequently, the term real lived on, meaning a quarter of a peseta. The escudo was the name of two distinct Spanish currency denominations. ...
The peseta is the former currency of Spain and, (along with the French Franc), of Andorra. ...
Coins
Predecimal In the eighteenth century, coins were issued in copper for 1, 2, 4 and 8 maravedíes, in silver for ½, 1, 2, 4 and 8 reales and in gold for ½, 1, 2, 4 and 8 escudos. The silver 8 reales coins was known as the Spanish dollar or peso (the famous "piece of eight"). Spanish Dollars minted between 1732 and 1773 are also often refered to as columnarios. The portrait variety from 1772 and later are typically referred to as Spanish Dollars or Pillar Dollars. There was also a denomination known as the peso sencillo worth 6 reales. The Spanish dollar or peso (literally, weight) is a silver coin that was minted in the Spanish Empire after a Spanish currency reform in 1497. ...
The peso is a unit of currency. ...
The Spanish dollar or peso (literally, heavy, or pound) is a silver coin which was minted in Spain after a Spanish currency reform in 1497. ...
Columnarios are silver coins that were minted by Spain from 1732 to 1773 throughout their new colonies in present-day Latin America. ...
From 1808, coins were issued in denominations of 1, 2, 4, 10, 20, 80, 160 and 320 reales de vellón. The higher denominations were equivalent to 4 and 8 reales de plata fuerte and 2, 4 and 8 escudos.
Decimal Copper coins were issued for ½, 1 and 2 decima de real and ½ real, with silver 1, 2, 4, 10 and 20 reales and gold 20, 40 and 100 reales. The new denominations were introduced between 1850 and 1853. In 1854, copper 5, 10 and 25 céntimos de reales were introduced.
See also Columnarios are silver coins that were minted by Spain from 1732 to 1773 throughout their new colonies in present-day Latin America. ...
References - Krause, Chester L. and Clifford Mishler (1991). Standard Catalog of World Coins: 1801-1991, 18th ed., Krause Publications. ISBN 0-87341-150-1.
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