Every now and then you read a post about a certain coin not expecting much drama and then it hits you by surprise. The person does something you had never expected.

Todays post with a hilarious end is this one by pirate summertooth:

https://steemit.com/steemsilvergold/@summertooth/piratesunday-eve-with-silver-skulls-and-pieces-of-eight

I cannot beat that post but like to give some more background on that pirate coin the 8 reales- ocho reales. Minted originally only in Spain but soon in many overseas territories (Peru, Mexico, Guatemala) as a trade coin.

Also called pillar dollar.

Why pillar ?

Well these pillars on the coin refer to 'the pillars of Hercules', pillars you had to cross when you enter the Mare Nostrum (Mediterranean Sea). One pillar in nowadays Rock of Gibraltar (north) and one on the Rock of Abila (Ceuta) (south). They are well apart but still it was believed Hercules had written on them : do not tresspass!

Why dollar ? and relation to $

The sign of the dollar was taken of the (mexican) reales. It is the pillar with the snake like banner. Here you can see it clearly. The banner says 'plus ultra' ( go further) symboling the Spanish discoveries of the Americas.

The word Dollar comes from the Spanish tálero, as it comes from talerus, which is the latinized expression of the German word thaler (pronounced talar). (In Dutch Daalder as in the restrike Leeuwen daalder or Lion dollar)
source

So that is enough theory for today. I am going out looting for Sunshine!

Goldrooster