1700s Spanish 8 Reales Pillar Dollar F–VF

Scarce! America's First Silver Dollar!

The Spanish milled Silver Dollar, valued at 8 Reales, is synonymous with United States independence and the colonial era. Struck in highly pure 90.3% fine silver, it is considered to be America's first Silver Dollar because it was granted legal-tender status in 1776 by the Second Continental Congress–a status it held until the Coinage Act of 1857. Accepted throughout the 13 Colonies, this type of coin could very well have lined the pockets of patriots like George Washington, Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and other Founding Fathers who formed the first Continental Congress, participated in the Boston Tea Party, and fought against the British for the right to form their own nation!

The Inspiration For The Original Dollar Sign

The design shows two globes representing the Old and New Worlds between the Pillars of Hercules draped with banners that read PLVS VLTRA ("more beyond") under a crown and the legend VTRAQUE VNUM ("both are one"). Many coin experts believe the banners wrapping around the pillars served as the inspiration for the original "$" dollar sign. The medal's obverse displays the Bourbon Spanish arms, Castile and Leon.

The Story Behind Chop Marked Spanish Coins

These interesting coins are also unique for their "chop marks," which are countermarks or stamps applied by merchants, primarily in East Asia, to verify each coin's authenticity and silver content. These marks, initially viewed as imperfections, are now valued by collectors for their historical significance and the story they tell about the coin's journey. Spanish 8 Reales were truly an international coin and were traded heavily within China and the Far East. Once the United States established trade relationships with China during this period, American traders acquired these chop-marked coins as part of their transactions.

Graded In Fine To Very Fine Condition

Here you have the opportunity to own Spanish 8 Reales Pillar coin struck during 1700s and graded as being in Fine to Very Fine (F–VF) condition–a magnificent feat for coins that were struck more than 250 years ago! Owning a piece of pre-U.S. history like this is like having a private museum right in your own home. You can examine every fine detail, hold it in your hands (sealed within its protective holder, of course), and be taken back to a time when the Founding Fathers were preparing to rally their countrymen and fight for their independence.