Black dog (coin) facts for kids

A dog or black dog was a special kind of coin used in the Caribbean long ago, during the time of Queen Anne of Great Britain. These coins were usually made from pewter or copper. They were typically worth about one and a half pence or a small fraction of a dollar.

The name "dog" might sound a bit strange for a coin! It probably came from how these coins were made. Sometimes, older silver coins were "debased," meaning they had less silver in them than they should. This made them darker in color, and people might have thought of the word "dog" because of this negative idea or their dark look.

These coins were also sometimes called "stampes" or "stampees." This is because they were often coins from other countries, like French coins (worth 2 sous), that were stamped with a new mark to make them official British money.

What Was a Dog Coin?

A Unique Caribbean Currency

The "dog" coin was a common sight in the Caribbean islands during the 1700s and early 1800s. It wasn't like the shiny new coins we use today. Instead, it was a practical coin for everyday buying and selling. Imagine a time when different types of money from various countries were all used together!

Materials and Appearance

Most "dog" coins were made from metals like pewter or copper. These metals are not as valuable as silver or gold, which made the coins cheaper to produce. Because they were often made from debased (less pure) metals or were older coins, they usually had a darker appearance, which is why they were also known as "black dogs."

The Role of Queen Anne

Queen Anne ruled Great Britain from 1702 to 1714. During her reign, the British Empire was growing, and its colonies, including those in the Caribbean, needed their own money system. The "dog" coin became a part of this system, even if it was a bit unofficial at times.

How Much Was a Dog Coin Worth?

Understanding Its Value

The value of a "dog" coin could be a bit confusing because it wasn't always the same everywhere or at all times. Generally, a "dog" was worth about 1½ pence. To give you an idea, a Spanish dollar was a very important coin back then, and a "dog" was a small part of it.

Dogs, Stampes, and Bits

Sometimes, a "dog" and a "stampee" were considered the same value, but not always! The Spanish dollar was often divided into smaller units called "bits." Each bit was worth 9 pence. A Spanish dollar could be equal to 6 "black dogs" or 4 "stampees." This shows that "dogs" and "stampes" had slightly different values depending on the exact time and place.

For example, before 1811, one dollar was equal to 11 bits. This meant a "dog" was about 1/66 of a dollar. After 1811, one dollar equalled 12 bits, making a "dog" worth about 1/72 of a dollar. This change shows how currency values could shift over time.

Everyday Use of the Dog Coin

Buying Goods in the Market

The "dog" coin was very important for daily life in the Caribbean. It was the kind of money ordinary people used to buy small, necessary items.

A Glimpse into History

We know about the practical use of these coins from historical accounts. For instance, the story of Mary Prince, a woman who lived in Antigua during that period, tells us how enslaved people would use "dog's worth" of money to buy food. On Sundays, which was often their only day off, they would go to the market and buy things like salted fish or pork using these very coins. This shows how crucial the "dog" coin was for everyday transactions and survival for many people.