1772-1832 First United States Silver Dollar Spanish 8 Reales

1772-1832 First United States Silver Dollar Spanish 8 Reales

 Product Description:

America's First Silver Dollar

 On September 2, 1776, Thomas Jefferson recommended to Congress that the new country should adopt the silver Spanish milled dollar as our monetary unit of value. Congress agreed, making the 8 Reales Spanish Silver Dollar the official dollar of the Continental Congress. The reason why they chose it was because it was the U.S. Dollar of its day, the currency used everywhere around the world to buy and sell goods. The 'Piece of Eight,' as we know it from pirate legends, was also the most sought-after coin by those who stole them from everybody else! Our Founding Fathers carried them in their pockets every day, and if the legend that George Washington threw a Silver Dollar over the Potomac is true, this is the dollar he tossed. The design is also quite intriguing and historical. The two pillars on the reverse represent the Pillars of Hercules off the coast of Spain, where the Atlantic and Mediterranean meet. The ribbons read PLUS and ULTRA, meaning 'More Beyond.' Look closely at the ribbon wrapping around the left pillar. This is the source of our $ sign! Each is almost exactly the size and weight of a Morgan Silver Dollar, because, well, that Silver Dollar was modeled after this Silver Dollar! Dates vary between 1772 and 1832.

Specification:

Country Origin:   Spain

Composition Type:   Silver

Denomination:   8.00

Condition Type:   Circulated

Purity:   0.9000

Coin Weight:   24.5 Grams - g

Dimensions:   39.5 MM

Currency Type:   Reale