[gus_massa]

Side question:

I'm surprised by the explanation of the 8 in the "real de a a ocho" because "traders counted gold doubloons on their fingers, skipping their thumbs." (and the link to investopedia has a similar explanation).

But from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doubloon

> Spanish American gold coins were minted in one-half, one, two, four, and eight escudo denominations, with each escudo worth around two Spanish dollars or $2. The two-escudo (or $4 coin) was the "doubloon" or "pistole", and the large eight-escudo (or $16) was a "quadruple pistole"

I think it makes more sense that some time ago it was possible to split some coins in half and quarters, so someone decide to continue the tradition and use base 2 to move up.

[franciscop]

Yes, my historical understanding is definitely that it could be split into two easily, not that we counted with our fingers skipping the thumb (Spaniard here).

[vitalikpie]

Yeah, I thought about it when I first saw the coin cut into pieces - https://www.pirateglossary.com/glossary/pieces-of-eight

But then why didn't they cut it into 10 pieces - https://etc.usf.edu/clipart/40600/40610/pie_01-10a_40610.htm ?

[Swizec]

> But then why didn't they cut it into 10 pieces - https://etc.usf.edu/clipart/40600/40610/pie_01-10a_40610.htm ?

Ever tried cutting a cake? It’s a lot easier to visually judge half of a circle segment. You’d need a compass to get accurate tenths (or fifths) and I imagine it is generally frowned upon if some tenths are a lot smaller than others (happens a lot with cake)

[burnte]

8 pieces is easier for a human than 10. You halve it, then again, then halve the remaining quarters. For 10 you'd need to work harder to get the angles right and that's a lot harder.

[noja]

Easier to cut into halves?

[vitalikpie]

Yeah. Likely so. While at the same time, they may have some other reason - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9S6qD_Wylw