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Posted 10/29/2009 @ 3:06:36 am by yesteryearcrafts.com
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Doubloons were hammered flat by hand, were then weighed and small pieces were cut off until it was the correct weight, approximately one ounce. This procedure made the doubloons irregular in size and shape even though they all weighed the same. It is fascinating to note that the dollar sign came from the picture on the doubloon; which was the Pillars of Hercules overlaid with a scroll. "Spanish Golds" discloses that other nations used this coin to base the value of their own coins.
Pirates were wont to engage the ships traveling back to Spain and plunder the coins and gold and silver ingots. Hurricanes and storms off the coast of Florida caused many of these ships to be wrecked and sink with their treasure.
