Comments on: TWO-BITS, FOUR-BITS, SIX-BITS, EIGHT… http://www.coinlink.com/Articles/world-coins/two-bits-four-bits-six-bits-eight/ Articles on Rare Coins, Currency & Coin Collecting organized by Subject Tue, 06 Jan 2009 10:01:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: CoinLink http://www.coinlink.com/Articles/world-coins/two-bits-four-bits-six-bits-eight/#comment-329 CoinLink Sun, 30 Nov 2008 21:59:28 +0000 http://www.coinlink.com/Articles/world-coins/two-bits-four-bits-six-bits-eight/#comment-329 During the colonial days, people used coins from all over the world. The most commonly used coin was the Spanish milled dollar. When our nation adopted an official currency, the Spanish Milled Dollar was chosen, and it later became the model for American silver dollars. The Spanish milled dollars were easily cut apart into equal "bits" of 8 pieces. One "bit" would be equal to 1/8 of a dollar, and 2 bits would equal 2/8 (or 1/4 - a quarter of a dollar). So, it is easy to see why the coins were called "pieces of eight", and "2 bits" was commonly used to refer to 25 cents. During the colonial days, people used coins from all over the world. The most commonly used coin was the Spanish milled dollar. When our nation adopted an official currency, the Spanish Milled Dollar was chosen, and it later became the model for American silver dollars.

The Spanish milled dollars were easily cut apart into equal “bits” of 8 pieces. One “bit” would be equal to 1/8 of a dollar, and 2 bits would equal 2/8 (or 1/4 - a quarter of a dollar). So, it is easy to see why the coins were called “pieces of eight”, and “2 bits” was commonly used to refer to 25 cents.

]]> By: Carolyn Lowrance http://www.coinlink.com/Articles/world-coins/two-bits-four-bits-six-bits-eight/#comment-328 Carolyn Lowrance Sun, 30 Nov 2008 16:56:14 +0000 http://www.coinlink.com/Articles/world-coins/two-bits-four-bits-six-bits-eight/#comment-328 My husband was recently reading a book which spoke of 6 bits being about 75 cents. We have been trying to find info on this and where it came from do found your cite quite interesting. Do you have anymore info on this? My husband was recently reading a book which spoke of 6 bits being about 75 cents. We have been trying to find info on this and where it came from do found your cite quite interesting. Do you have anymore info on this?

]]>