Where Do Dimes Come From

Quick answer: There are eight bits to the Spanish Milled Dollar "piece-of-eight" with each bit or one real equal to twelve and a Half Cents. But Thomas Jefferson was not talking about those, rather he based the dime on the half Pistareen. The confusing part is that both half Pistareen and Spanish Colonial bit say they are one "real" but Pistareens being intended for Spain and not international trade were made 20% light, so that five Pistareens by weight equaled four two bit pieces. Sometimes called long bits and short bits, the Spanish Colonial coins were traded along with Pistareens and their parts before the American Revolution. Pistareens were first made at a time that Spanish Colonial mints were still making cobs. Pistareens had a 25 year head start in commerce over the Spanish Colonial "Pillar" coinage.

Yes. I was not aware of that.

But but you cant have "centavo" without "cent"!

Don't forget there is also a Hawaii dime!