Spanish dollars in the context of "Spanish real"

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⭐ Core Definition: Spanish dollars

The Spanish dollar, originally known as the piece of eight (Spanish: real de a ocho, peso duro, peso fuerte or peso), and much later also dólar, is a silver coin of approximately 38 mm (1.5 in) diameter worth eight Spanish reales. It was minted in the Spanish Empire, following a monetary reform in 1497, with content 25.563 g (0.8219 ozt) fine silver. It was widely used as the first international currency because of its uniformity in standard and milling characteristics. Some countries countermarked the Spanish dollar so it could be used as their local currency.

Because the Spanish dollar was widely used in Europe, the Americas, and the Far East, it became the first world currency by the 16th century.

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Spanish dollars in the context of Adams–Onís Treaty

The Adams–Onís Treaty (Spanish: Tratado de Adams-Onís) of 1819, also known as the Transcontinental Treaty, the Spanish Cession, the Florida Purchase Treaty, or the Florida Treaty, was a treaty between the United States and Spain in 1819 by which Spain ceded Florida to the United States; in return, the United States renounced its claims to Texas, fixing the boundary along the Sabine River.

Florida had become a burden to Spain, which could not afford to send settlers or staff garrisons, so Madrid decided to cede the territory to the United States in exchange for settling the boundary dispute along the Sabine River in Spanish Texas. The treaty, named for signatories John Quincy Adams and Luis de Onís, established the boundary of U.S. territory and claims through the Rocky Mountains and west to the Pacific Ocean, in exchange for Washington paying residents' claims against the Spanish government up to a total of 5 million Spanish dollars (purchasing power equivalent to US$102,700,000 in 2024) and relinquishing the U.S. claims of Spanish Texas west of the Sabine River and other Spanish areas, under the terms of the Louisiana Purchase.

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