Coins were minted in Spain in copper 1, 2, 4 and 8 maravedíes, in silver coins equivalent to 1, 2, 4, 10 and 20 reales de vellón since 1737, and in gold coins equivalent to 1⁄2, 1, 2, 4 and 8 escudos.
Struck throughout the vast Spanish Empire from the late 16th century through the 19th century, the 8 Reales coin became the backbone of international commerce and one of the most widely recognized silver coins ever produced from Mexico.
They were the 8 reales: specimens that served for domestic and international trade until after the independence of the colonies. Here are some facts about the origin, use and importance of these coins, which symbolized Hispanic wealth, reach and influence in the five continents.
The 8 reales: the history of the 1st international coin that gave rise ...
Explore Spanish Colonial coins from 1500–1808, including silver reales and gold escudos minted across the Americas under Spanish rule.
As a numismatist and shipwreck coin enthusiast, I have spent countless hours delving into the captivating world of Spanish reales. These remarkable coins hold a unique place in history and remain a treasure for collectors worldwide.
Padre Island National Seashore is fortunate to have the National Park Service's largest collection of coins from the Spanish Colonial era. During the time of their use, these coins were called reales (singular: real, pronounced ray-AL in Spanish, plural ray-AL-es).
Assess world coin values with the World Coin Price Guide on NGCcoin.com. View Mexico SPANISH COLONY 8 Reales prices, images and mintage info.
The reason the Spanish Reales are often found at historic sites in the US is that during colonial days in the U.S., the silver Ocho Reales coin, referred to as the Spanish milled dollar, piece of eight, or eight bits, was the principal coin in circulation.