Spanish Colonial Coinage: A Comprehensive Guide to the Coins and Currency Circulating in Spanish America, from the Conquest to Independence
The Early Days: From Conquest to the First Mints The Spanish conquest of the Americas in the early 16th century led to the need for a stable currency system. Initially, the Spanish used cobs, irregularly-shaped silver coins that were crudely cut and hammered, as the primary form of currency. These cobs were produced in Spain…