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From: "Fred K. Smoot" <>
Subject: Re: [OLD-SOUTH-BURIALS] NPR: Rare Spanish Coin Found inNashvilleCemetery
Date: Sun, 11 Nov 2007 18:30:44 -0800
References: <r02010500-1049-0DD0D47E90AD11DCA232000A95686A3E@[192.168.1.33]>


-From the Tennessean.
http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071109/COUNTY0104/711090307/1346/COUNTY
This page shows the obverse (front) of the well worn 1776, 8 Reales coin
found in the Nashville cemetery.

>From my collection:
http://www.southernfolk.us/ipm/8reales.gif
The reverse side of an Eight Reales coin, dated 1738, was made in Mexico
City under the reign of Philip V, King of Spain. This side shows the
Pillars of Hercules. During our colonial times, England limited the use
English hard currency in these colonies. Therefore, many foreign coins
were used here including the Spanish Eight Reales coin. This coin was
occasionally cut into four or eight pieces, or "bits." A half piece
would be called "four bits," a quarter piece would be called "two bits."

I am sure tom knows this, but in case any of you have not given thought
to this, the Spanish murdered, robbed, raped, and enslaved their way
through the Americas. The Spanish paid for their European wars with
their ill gotten booty -- and filled many a grave with their dead
victims. All these Eight Reales "collectibles" have a bloody history
behind them.

Fred Smoot

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