Definition of the word doubloon

The word "doubloon" originated in the 18th century Spanish Empire, particularly during the time of pirates in the Caribbean. The term "doblar" in Spanish means "to double," referring to the act of doubling the value of a coin for resting or recoating it with new metal. The Spanish kingdom issued a type of silver coin called the "peso nuevo," which was equal to eight reals, as a means to combat shortages and inflation. Pirates, on the other hand, found these coins quite valuable as it held high metal content and was easily recognisable. They would take the existing coins, remove most of the outer layer through a process called "clipping," and replace the trimmed portion with another type of metal such as copper or lead to make it heavier and more valuable. The newly altered coins became known as "doblones," loosely translated as "doubloons." Originally, the doubloon's silver content varied based on location, period and the type of production. For example, in the Spanish colony of Vera Paz, a doubloon pocketed between 1735 and 1762, might have weighed nearly 40 grams and consisted of up to 74% silver. The doubloons that mainly circulated in the Caribbean, Venezuala and the Spanish Main, including those minted by the infamous city of Potosi and the Rio de la Plata, varied remarkably. While the Pearl River, produced by the British King George's royal mint in Bombay, resulted in a doubloon with a silver content between 35% and 47%. Today, the term doubloon is used to refer to any exotic or valuable treasure, as it is commonly associated with pirate stories and treasure hunting lore in popular culture. However, its original significance lies in the history of colonial currency and the influence of Spanish imperialism on Caribbean piracy.