Nevertheless, silver pieces of eight continued to form an important portion of the circulating coinage right up until the wake of the great silver devaluation of 1873.
Lists show standardised payments of 600 pieces of eight ($156,000 in modern currency) for the loss of a leg down to 100 pieces ($26,800) for loss of an eye.
The silver was in the form of minted coins, mostly pieces of eight.
The dollar was divided into pieces of eight, or bits, each consisting of one-eighth of a dollar.
The offer was 4,000 pieces of eight, which he assured were still in his possession.
A sum for provisions and victuals is specified, usually 200 pieces of eight.
They have been known to spend 2 or 3,000 pieces of eight in one night; and one gave a strumpet 500 to see her naked.
A salary and compensation is specified for the surgeon and his medicine chest, usually 250 pieces of eight.
