The doubloon (from Spanishdoblón, or "double", i.e. double escudo) was a two-escudogold coin worth approximately $4 (four Spanish dollars) or 32 reales,[1] and weighing 6.766 grams (0.218 troy ounce) of 22-karat gold (or 0.917 fine; hence 6.2 g fine gold).[2][3] Doubloons were minted in Spain and the viceroyalties of New Spain, Peru, and Nueva Granada (modern-day Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, and Venezuela). As the Spanish escudo succeeded the heavier gold excelente (or ducado, ducat; 3.1 g vs 3.48 g fine gold) as the standard Spanish gold coin, the doubloon therefore succeeded the doble excelente or double-ducat denomination.
Spanish 4-doubloon, or doubloon of 8 escudos, stamped as minted in Mexico city mint in 1798. Obverse: Carol.IIII.D.G. Hisp.et Ind.R. Reverse:.in.utroq.felix. .auspice.deo.fm.
In modern times, the doubloon is remembered due in large part to the influence of historical fiction about piracy.[4]
Spanish American gold coins were minted in one-half, one, two, four, and eight escudo denominations, with each escudo worth around two Spanish dollars or $2. The two-escudo (or $4 coin) was the "doubloon" or "pistole", and the large eight-escudo (or $16) was a "quadruple pistole".
English nomenclature was confusing, though, since the $8 "double pistole" was the doubloon in English usage, while the $16 "quadruple pistole" was the doubloon in American colonial usage. This was disambiguated in references by calling the $4 the common doubloon or simply doubloon, the $8 the doubloon of four (escudos), and the $16 the doubloon of eight.[5]Spanish America did the same as per es:doblón. See also Brasher doubloon.
After the War of 1812, doubloons of eight were valued in Nova Scotia at the rate of £4 and became the dominant coin there.[6]
Doubloons, when exchanged for $4 or 32 reales in silver, traded at a high gold-silver ratio of 16 (since each real contained 3.833 g of 0.917 silver). Since the prevailing ratio in Europe was 15 in most of the 18th century, doubloons occasionally traded at a discount to this amount, at 30–32 reales.
In Spain, doubloons were current for $4 (four duros, or 80 reales de vellón) up to the middle of the 19th century. Isabella II of Spain switched to an escudo-based coinage with decimal reales in 1859, and replaced the 6.77-gram doblón with a new heavier doblón worth $5 (five duros, or 100 reales) and weighing 8.3771 grams (0.268 troy ounces). The last Spanish doubloons (showing the denomination as 80 reales) were minted in 1849. After their independence, the former Spanish Viceroyalties of Mexico, Peru and Nueva Granada continued to mint doubloons.
Doubloons have also been minted in Portuguese colonies, where they went by the name dobrão, with the same meaning. The São Tomé and Príncipe dobra is the only extant currency with a name meaning "doubloon."[7]
In Europe, the doubloon became the model for several other gold coins, including the French Louis d'or, the Italian doppia, the Swiss duplone, the Northern German pistole, and the PrussianFriedrich d'or.
^Kelly, Patrick (1821). The Universal Cambist and Commercial Instructor: Being a Full and Accurate Treatise on the Exchanges, Monies, Weights, and Measures, and of All Trading Nations and Their Colonies .... Including a revision of foreign weights and measures ... Lackington.
^"What Are Gold Doubloons?". APMEX. from the original on 8 August 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
^Kelly, Patrick (1821). "The Universal Cambist, and Commercial Instructor: Being a Full and Accurate Treatise on the Exchanges, Monies, Weights and Measures of All Trading Nations and Their Colonies; with an Account of Their Banks, Public Funds, and Paper Currencies". from the original on 2023-01-14. Retrieved 2021-11-29.
^McCullough, Alan Bruce. Money and Exchange in Canada to 1900, Dundurn, 1984 ISBN9780919670860
^Stevenson, Angus; Waite, Maurice (18 August 2011). Concise Oxford English Dictionary: Book & CD-ROM Set. OUP Oxford. ISBN9780199601103 – via Google Books.
December 15, 2023
doubloon, doubloon, from, spanish, doblón, double, double, escudo, escudo, gold, coin, worth, approximately, four, spanish, dollars, reales, weighing, grams, troy, ounce, karat, gold, fine, hence, fine, gold, were, minted, spain, viceroyalties, spain, peru, nu. The doubloon from Spanish doblon or double i e double escudo was a two escudo gold coin worth approximately 4 four Spanish dollars or 32 reales 1 and weighing 6 766 grams 0 218 troy ounce of 22 karat gold or 0 917 fine hence 6 2 g fine gold 2 3 Doubloons were minted in Spain and the viceroyalties of New Spain Peru and Nueva Granada modern day Colombia Ecuador Panama and Venezuela As the Spanish escudo succeeded the heavier gold excelente or ducado ducat 3 1 g vs 3 48 g fine gold as the standard Spanish gold coin the doubloon therefore succeeded the doble excelente or double ducat denomination Spanish 4 doubloon or doubloon of 8 escudos stamped as minted in Mexico city mint in 1798 Obverse Carol IIII D G Hisp et Ind R Reverse in utroq felix auspice deo fm In modern times the doubloon is remembered due in large part to the influence of historical fiction about piracy 4 Contents 1 History 2 In other countries 3 See also 4 ReferencesHistory editSpanish American gold coins were minted in one half one two four and eight escudo denominations with each escudo worth around two Spanish dollars or 2 The two escudo or 4 coin was the doubloon or pistole and the large eight escudo or 16 was a quadruple pistole English nomenclature was confusing though since the 8 double pistole was the doubloon in English usage while the 16 quadruple pistole was the doubloon in American colonial usage This was disambiguated in references by calling the 4 the common doubloon or simply doubloon the 8 the doubloon of four escudos and the 16 the doubloon of eight 5 Spanish America did the same as per es doblon See also Brasher doubloon After the War of 1812 doubloons of eight were valued in Nova Scotia at the rate of 4 and became the dominant coin there 6 Doubloons when exchanged for 4 or 32 reales in silver traded at a high gold silver ratio of 16 since each real contained 3 833 g of 0 917 silver Since the prevailing ratio in Europe was 15 in most of the 18th century doubloons occasionally traded at a discount to this amount at 30 32 reales In Spain doubloons were current for 4 four duros or 80 reales de vellon up to the middle of the 19th century Isabella II of Spain switched to an escudo based coinage with decimal reales in 1859 and replaced the 6 77 gram doblon with a new heavier doblon worth 5 five duros or 100 reales and weighing 8 3771 grams 0 268 troy ounces The last Spanish doubloons showing the denomination as 80 reales were minted in 1849 After their independence the former Spanish Viceroyalties of Mexico Peru and Nueva Granada continued to mint doubloons In other countries editThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed March 2023 Learn how and when to remove this template message nbsp Italian States Piacenza 2 Doppie 1626 depicting Odoardo Farnese Duke of ParmaDoubloons have also been minted in Portuguese colonies where they went by the name dobrao with the same meaning The Sao Tome and Principe dobra is the only extant currency with a name meaning doubloon 7 In Europe the doubloon became the model for several other gold coins including the French Louis d or the Italian doppia the Swiss duplone the Northern German pistole and the Prussian Friedrich d or See also edit nbsp Money portal nbsp Numismatics portalSpanish dollar also known as a piece of eight Brasher Doubloon Moby Dick CoinReferences edit Doubloon Dictionary com Archived from the original on 2015 09 20 Retrieved 2015 08 31 Spanish Gold coins nd edu Retrieved 2023 08 30 Kelly Patrick 1821 The Universal Cambist and Commercial Instructor Being a Full and Accurate Treatise on the Exchanges Monies Weights and Measures and of All Trading Nations and Their Colonies Including a revision of foreign weights and measures Lackington What Are Gold Doubloons APMEX Archived from the original on 8 August 2016 Retrieved 3 May 2021 Kelly Patrick 1821 The Universal Cambist and Commercial Instructor Being a Full and Accurate Treatise on the Exchanges Monies Weights and Measures of All Trading Nations and Their Colonies with an Account of Their Banks Public Funds and Paper Currencies Archived from the original on 2023 01 14 Retrieved 2021 11 29 McCullough Alan Bruce Money and Exchange in Canada to 1900 Dundurn 1984 ISBN 9780919670860 Stevenson Angus Waite Maurice 18 August 2011 Concise Oxford English Dictionary Book amp CD ROM Set OUP Oxford ISBN 9780199601103 via Google Books Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Doubloon amp oldid 1189161862, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
