Comment

Comment by Maria De Wind on November 13, 2012 at 1:23am

See the origin of the $ sign on the column at right

Actually the primary silver coin of international trade and currency in British North America, Australia, South America and a host of European countries were the  Reales or "Spanish Dollars" Minted in Mexico from 1536 It became know as Peso only at the end of the 19th century

Comment by suzie on November 12, 2012 at 12:36pm

 the TRADE DOLLAR  was used for international trade with China ..

The United States Congress authorized the U.S. Mint to create a trade dollar to improve trade with the Orient, China in particular. Prior to that, the Mexican peso had been the primary silver coin used in trading with China. In fact, the eagle on the trade dollar's reverse looks quite similar to the peso's.

Collectors are warned that recently a large number of U.S. Trade dollars have been forged in China made with base metal. Careful testing or purchasing from known dealers or buying sealed and certified coins may be necessary to avoid these fakes.^[4]

Comment by suzie on November 12, 2012 at 12:28pm

i would love to get my hands on one of those Maria ~ 

i have one of these ~~ history tells a story