a little Spanish copper coin, worth somewhat more than a French denier, or half a farthing English.

The Spaniards always count by maravedis, both in commerce and in their finances, though the coin itself is no longer current among them. Sixty-three maravedis are equivalent to a rial of silver; so that the piastra, or piece of eight rials, contains 504; and the piflole of four pieces of eight, 2016 maravedis.

This smallness of the coin produces vast numbers in the Spanish accounts and calculation; insomuch that a stranger or correspondent would think himself indebted several millions for a commodity that cost but a few pounds.

In the laws of Spain, we meet with several kinds of maravedis; Alphonse maravedis, white maravedis, maravedis of good money, maravedis Combreros, black maravedis, and old maravedis. When we find maravedis alone, and without any addition, it is to be understood of those mentioned above. The rest are different in value, fineness of metal, time, &c. Mariana asserts, that this coin is older than the Moors; that it came from the Goths; that it was anciently equal to a third part of the rial, and consequently of 12 times the value of the present maravedi. Under Alphonse XI., the maravedi was 17 times, under Henry II., ten times, under Henry III., five times, and under John II., two times and an half, the value of the present maravedi.