Meaning Of Vtraque Vnum On Reverse Of A Pillar 8R

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Author	Replies: 5 / Views: 5,265
wonghinghi Pillar of the Community Hong Kong 1270 Posts	Posted 04/06/2013 09:56 am Hi members, we have concentrated on the authenticity of a coin too often, on a coinsomething that is common and useful might be missed by us. Coins collecting is a comprehensive activity, not only scientific but also art, not only monetary but also cultural, not only economy but history... I think I have missed the meaning of these two words that I never know and never think of. VTRAQUE VNUM - Is it a latin motto or something else? Can anyone know it and tell me here. Thank you so much. Report this Post to the Staff

TwoKopeiki Pillar of the Community Czech Republic 803 Posts	Posted 04/06/2013 2:48 pm If I'm not mistaken, it's ULTRA QUE UNUM, which in Latin means "Both are One" - reference to the unity of the New and Old World territories of Spain. Plus Ultra on the pillars means "Further Beyond". The pillars themselves represented Pillars of Hercules that flank the entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar. Charles V saw the Pillars as an entrance to the rest of the world rather than as a gate to the Mediterranean Sea, encouraging taking risks and going further beyond. Many believe the pillar and banner on the Spanish 8 Reales were the origin of the US Dollar sign. Edited by TwoKopeiki 04/06/2013 3:00 pm Report this Post to the Staff
jfransch Pillar of the Community United States 1801 Posts	Posted 04/06/2013 4:15 pm TwoKopeiki is correct (as he always is when discussing 8 reales), the Ultraque Unum means "(he made)both one" referring to the kings of Spain making the old and the new world into one empire. Don't forget the symbolism of the crown of Spain over the two globes, showing his dominion over the world and as pointed out above "and beyond" I personally love pillar dollars, they symbolize the the power of the Spanish Empire at its peak. They deserve their title as "la moneda del mundo", "the coin of the world". Report this Post to the Staff
wonghinghi Pillar of the Community Hong Kong 1270 Posts	Posted 04/06/2013 7:50 pm Thank you both of you, Twokopeiki and jfransch. I recently recognize that "the pillar and banner were the origin of the US dollar sign" is not the only theory. There are still a few for this dollar sign $. Report this Post to the Staff
dosmundos Valued Member Germany 194 Posts	Posted 04/13/2013 2:33 pm Wonghinghi: The story of the pillar and the banner as origin of the dollar sign is incorrect, the development of the symbol has been shown by two serious and scholarly studies of the issue. It is one of the many modern myths in numismatics that get repeated over and over... As far as the symbolism on the Pillar Dollar is concerned, the Spanish crown is not only ruling over the two hemispheres, but also over the ocean between them, that's why there are also waves in the design. Obviously, the British did not have a say in the coin design :-) Report this Post to the Staff
wonghinghi Pillar of the Community Hong Kong 1270 Posts	Posted 04/13/2013 7:33 pm Thank you dosmundos, you are so careful to see the "wave" under the two hemispheres. I agree there is not only one theory to explain the dollar sign. Henry Report this Post to the Staff
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