The E-Sylum:  Volume 8, Number 51, December 4, 2005, Article 14

SPANISH DOLLARS: GOLD OR SILVER?

In our last issue, we quoted a catalog entry from
the Massachusetts Historical Society online catalog:

“Documents regarding the shipment of $40,000
Spanish-milled gold dollars to Batavia (Jakarta)
aboard ship Rebecca, by James and T. H. Perkins.
Includes justice of the peace certificate for
William Stevenson signed by Mass. Gov. Caleb Strong,
declaration, invoice, and bill of lading.”

Bob Leonard writes: "I think the Massachusetts
Historical Society cataloger must have misunderstood
the source here; the Spanish milled dollar was a silver
coin, not a gold coin.  While the gold half escudo was
roughly equivalent to a gold dollar, I don't believe
it was ever referred to as one.  If gold was to be
exported, it would have most likely been in the form
of full doubloons of 8 escudos.  I have a bill of
lading documenting the shipment of "Eight hundred &
thirty one Doubloons and one eighth part of a Doubloon"
from Bristol, Rhode Island, to Mantanzas, Cuba,
January 31, 1823, on the brig Maria.  An accompanying
letter gives the rate of exchange for a doubloon as
$17.   Shipments to Batavia at this time would most
likely have preferred doubloons or full dollars also."

I forwarded Bob's comments to Anne Bentley, who writes:
"I've forwarded your e-mail to our cataloging staff
who will be able to amend the catalog record.  Thanks
also to your correspondent for the useful data."

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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