Origins, History and Geography of Dollar Currencies
From Thalers to Dollars
Later on the English version of the name (dollar) was also applied to
similar coins, not only ones minted in central Europe but also the Spanish peso
and the Portuguese eight-real piece. Both these large silver coins were
practically identical in weight and fineness. Today we are familiar with the
phrase pieces of eight from tales of pirates in the Caribbean.
Dollars in Shakespeare
Macbeth Act I, Scene 2
Rosse:
“That now
Sweno, the Norway’s King, craves composition;
Nor would we deign him burial of his men
Till he disbursed at Saint Colme’s Inch
Ten thousand dollars to our general use.”
