Handbook for translators of Spanish historical ... - University Library

SPECIAL AIDS
in the exchange of the coin of high denomination which
they acquire and must exchange for things of small cost,
such as food, medicines, and similar articles.
The coinage of copper coins would remedy all the grave
harm caused "by the circulation of tlacos in all the
provinces of this extensive kingdom, where the use of
imaginary frontier money is current. The circulation
of the precious metals, which they urgently need, should
be encouraged; and copper coins should be used for
ordinary purchases throughout New Spain.
The great advantages of the establishment of this new
coin of low denomination should have two objectives;
first, its intrinsic value should not alter that of food,
clothing, notions, and other kinds of merchandise; second,
the amount coined should not exceed the limits of
the need which makes such coinage necessary as to provincial
coin; and its circulation should be confined to
the territory of New Spain.
The regular silver real has a value of twelve granos .
Using this coin as a standard, two kinds of copper
coins should be made: one with the value of one grano ;
the other with the value of half of one grano . Thus
there would be no alteration in the price of merchandise.
The purchase of the most insignificant articles could
continue to be effected, as now, with cacao . with no
other harm than the tendency to usury caused by the use
of tlacos, which should be absolutely forbidden.
The regulation of the amount of copper coins to be
put in circulation in each province or intendency is not
difficult. The general census now being taken will
record the number of families which may be used as a
basis to compute the amount of small denomination coins
needed.
I would present to Your Excellency a detailed report
on the subject of this letter, including the smallest
details, but the report furnished by the Count of Tepa
and the one prepared by the Marques de Croix, which was
sent to the Council of the Indies together with a complete
expediente on the matter, make it unnecessary for
me to spend any more time in setting forth the great
benefits to be derived from the advantageous project of
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