General Braddock on Pistareens

Pistareen

Since some of you folks may not know how the inspiration for my ID here, it seems appropriate to share a quote from history a friend just sent me that relates to the small Spanish coins called pistareens -- struck in the mainland but circulated in large quantities throughout the Chesapeake, the South, and the West Indies.

Those folks with Pittsburgh connections will recognize the name of General Edward Braddock, who was killed by French and allied Indian forces near the Monongahela River in the summer of 1755. Some kid named Washington served as an officer in his army.

Soon after he arrived in North America to lead the British and colonial troops against France, he wrote:

"As small coined Silver will be greatly wanted for payment of the Troops, and as no considerable Quantity of it can be got in this Province; I must beg of your Grace to direct the Contractors, Mr. Hanbury & Mr Thomlinson, to send over as soon as possible, if they have not already done it, four or five Thousand pounds, in Piastrines & Half Piastrines: which is the more necessary, as all the Money already brought over by the Regimental Paymaster is in Spanish Gold and Dollars".

Braddock to Newcastle, Williamsburg, March 20th 1755.

Military Affairs in North America p. 81

In Virginia, where Braddock was when the letter was written, pistareens and their cut fractions dominated pocket change and, today, are among the most commonly located coins in archaeological digs (and under metal detectors).

RYK

Cool, a Pittsburgh connection. How/where do I get one for my Pittsburgh coin type set?

CaptHenway

And here I thought Pistareen was an early mouthwash........
TD

LanLord

And here I thought you were always angry and just trying to get past the foul language editor.

Longacre

Very interesting.

What other coins were available other than pistareens? Do you have any idea why the general specifically requested pistareens, versus some other denomination. Just curious if you had any theories.

Fletcher

Great history ... thanks

holeinone1972

Yes good old General Braddock fought just over the hill from me in West Mifflin PA near Kennywood park. I have often thought about going over and metal detecting there.

Now there is a section of low income housing nearby calle dthe General Braddock towers. Sad!

Pistareen

Yes, the friend who sent me the quote always jokes that a pistareen was a portable urinal.

Pistareens were silver 2 reales struck at a lower standard than south American 2 reales, thus worth 20 cents instead of 25. A half pistareen was worth a dime. The 25 cent (and 12 1/2 cent) pieces circulated widely too, but in the mid-Atlantic the pistareens were especially prominent.

The Chalmers coins of 1783 were struck from melted pistareens and their cut fractions.

These pieces circulated along side small Spanish colonial 1 reales and 2 reales, coppers from England and elsewhere, and a widely varied array of other silver and copper types. Some of the pieces listed in the Redbook as colonials were also circulating.

ColonialCoinUnion

Good stuff.

mgoodm3

nice info

Fletcher

We would love to see some pics John!

Pistareen

Ask and ye shall receive.

Follow this link and you'll find a magnificent article on pistareens, pictures of whole pistareen 2 reales, and some images of cut quarter pistareens -- basically colonial half dimes. The cross in the middle of the obvious served as a perfect guideline to cut the coin into halves or quarters for small change. In fact, while everyone talks about 8 reales (dollars) being cut up, these were the coins that were cut more often than not.

Though I do have a cut 1798 half dollar in my collection, cut in antiquity for change. It's one of my favorite pieces. I also have a 1793 half cent -- a cut half of a Chain cent!

LeeG

<< <i>struck in the mainland but circulated in large quantities throughout the Chesapeake

Braddock to Newcastle, Williamsburg, March 20th 1755.

Military Affairs in North America p. 81

In Virginia, where Braddock was when the letter was written, pistareens and their cut fractions dominated pocket change and, today, are among the most commonly located coins in archaeological digs (and under metal detectors). >>



I live in the area. Rich in history; Jamestown, Williamsburg, etc. Appreciate the history lesson

IGWT

From T. Kays article: "Spanish cross pistareens (sometimes creatively spelled pistorene, pistarene, pistorine, or pistereen) . . . ." The variations don't include "piastrine" as written by Gen. Braddock. Did the spelling change over time as it was anglicized, or was Braddock just a lousy speller?

Pistareen

Until Webster appeared in 1828, pretty much everyone was a lousy speller in the States. Webster, incidentally, defined a pistareen in his first American lexicon as "PISTAREE'N, n. A silver coin of the value of 17 or 18 cents, or 9d sterling."

Spellings in the 18th century were non-standardized, which is one reason that Samuel Johnson's 1755 dictionary was such a revelation. There were other dictionaries, but his was the first best-seller and was used for decades.

CaptHenway

<< <i>Very interesting.

What other coins were available other than pistareens? Do you have any idea why the general specifically requested pistareens, versus some other denomination. Just curious if you had any theories. >>



Perhaps it was because the debased pistareens would stay in circulation locally, and not get shipped back overseas? This was the principle behind the debased Massachusetts silver.
TD

Longacre

<< <i>

<< <i>Very interesting.

What other coins were available other than pistareens? Do you have any idea why the general specifically requested pistareens, versus some other denomination. Just curious if you had any theories. >>



Perhaps it was because the debased pistareens would stay in circulation locally, and not get shipped back overseas? This was the principle behind the debased Massachusetts silver.
TD >>




Thanks!

ricko

Nice bit of coin history.... thanks, Cheers, RickO