The peceta (pl. pecetes) was a unit of currency in Catalonia until 1850, when the whole of Spain decimalized. It was also a name used throughout Spain for an amount of four reales de vellón. It was coined in Barcelona in gold and silver from 1808 until 1814, under the Napoleonic government.[1]

In Catalonia, the peceta was subdivided into 6 sous, each of 4 quarts (also spelled cuartos in Spanish), 8 xavos or 12 diners. Five pecetes were equal to one duro, which was itself equal to the Spanish 8 reales de plata fuerte (Spanish dollar). In the new, decimal currency, the peseta was worth 4 reales.[2]

The name peseta reappeared in 1868 for the new Spanish currency. Its value was equivalent to that of the earlier peseta.[3]

Etymology

The name of the currency comes from the Catalan diminutive form of the word peça (piece) synonym of coin.[4]

References

  1. ^ Salrach i Marés, Josep M.; Termes, Josep (1992). Diccionari d'Història de Catalunya (in Catalan). Ed. 62. p. 816. ISBN 9788429735215.
  2. ^ Suchet, Louis Gabriel (1829). Memoirs of the War in Spain, from 1808 to 1814. Vol. 1. H. Colburn. p. 304.
  3. ^ Vergés, Josep C. (2003). Laureà Figuerola i la pesseta (in Spanish). Institut d'Estudis Catalans. p. 11. ISBN 8472836649.
  4. ^ "Diccionari català-valencià-balear".


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