moneda columnaria

coin

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June 30, 2026

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The "moneda columnaria," or "columnar coinage," was a distinctive Spanish silver coin minted from 1732 to 1771. Its most recognizable features were the Pillars of Hercules and the motto "Plus Ultra" on one side, and two crowned hemispheres on the other. This coin, also known as the Spanish milled dollar or peso fuerte, became an international currency due to its uniform standard and milling. The design was later replaced by a bust of the reigning monarch on one side and the royal coat of arms on the other. The origin of the dollar sign ($) is widely believed to stem from this Spanish milled dollar.1234

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coin
The colonial period
…hemispheres; this was called the moneda columnaria (“columnar coinage”) and was minted until 1772. From that date, by ordinances of Charles III, silver coinage carried on the face a bust of the reigning monarch and on the reverse the coat of arms, a system already utilized in the gold pieces.
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…hemispheres; this was called the moneda columnaria (“columnar coinage”) and was minted until 1772. From that date, by ordinances of Charles III, silver coinage carried on the face a bust of the reigning monarch and on the reverse the coat of arms, a system already utilized in the gold pieces.
Read More