Resumo

RIVERO HERNANDEZ, Iván. Gold and “Pesos in Gold” at the Dawn of New Spain: A Proposal for Reinterpretation. Hist. mex. [online]. 2023, vol.73, n.2, pp.543-587.  Epub 29-Set-2023. ISSN 2448-6531.  https://doi.org/10.24201/hm.v73i2.4677.

Ever since their arrival in American territory, the Spaniards utilized references to the monetary reality of their place of origin while operating in an economic context that lacked currency. This situation led to the use of certain specific concepts that, in the case of gold, would have to be officially adapted once mints were established, albeit with new values and modifications. This implied the existence of different “gold pesos” that varied over time, something that hasn’t always been acknowledged in studies on the formative stage in New Spain. Based on treasury account books and records of the founding of New Spain, this article reveals this difference and offers a way toward understanding its economic dimensions.

Palavras-chave : gold peso; weight unit; imaginary currency; monetary system; early colonial economy.