What does maravedi mean?
A maravedi was a Spanish coin whose name became familiar throughout the medieval and early modern periods of Iberia and its overseas territories. The coin was introduced as gold currency and was especially associated with the kingdoms of Castile and León, where it could represent a substantial amount of money. Over time, changes in the Spanish monetary system led to silver and copper issues bearing the same name, so the term came to designate both particular coins and the monetary unit associated with them. In English, maravedi now has an archaic or specialized historical character rather than everyday currency use. It is valuable to vocabulary readers because it illustrates how one coinage can preserve its identity across changes in value, composition, and political authority. References to a gold maravedi generally evoke the wealth and prestige of medieval Castile, while later maravedis may reflect the expansion and transformation of Spanish finance.
nounA former Spanish coin, originally issued in gold and later in silver and copper; the word also served as a historical monetary unit in medieval Iberia and Spanish colonial territories.
- A historical Spanish coin, originally gold but later issued in other metals.
- A former monetary unit or unit of account based on the maravedi coin.
"The museum's collection includes a gold maravedi from the reign of Ferdinand III of Castile."
"A gold maravedi minted under Ferdinand III of Castile is displayed in the exhibition."
"The colonial accounts record several maravedis as payment for imported goods."
The plural usually appears in historical or monetary contexts.
"Several silver maravedis were found beneath the floorboards of the old customs house."
The maravedi began as a gold coin worth ten reales, but the name survived even when later coinage was struck in silver and copper.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of maravedi
The English word comes through Spanish maravedí, the name of a coin circulated in medieval Iberia. The Spanish term ultimately derives from an Arabic term associated with coinage struck for circulation. The name was adopted for successive gold, silver, and copper issues as the Spanish monetary system evolved.
How maravedi is actually used
This is chiefly a historical term in modern English. It appears in discussions of medieval Iberian coinage, Spanish monetary history, and colonial accounting; the spelling maravedís is also used, especially in the plural.