Piece Of Eight Biscuit: EOA: 2022.23.1

Piece of eight biscuit from the wreck of the Earl Of Abergavenny. ID:EOA:2022.23.1 Collection: Earl of Abergavenny Classification: Ship’s structure/function Measurements: Diameter 450mm Depth 120mm Date made: as yet unknown Display: not on display Manufacturer/Creator: as yet unknown Credit: Portland Museum Trust This type of coin is often referred to as a biscuit, due to the process of concretion that has taken place. Part of the Abergavenny's cargo was £70,000 worth of silver dollars, also known as 8 Reale coins: genuine pieces of eight. £70,000 is worth over £6.7 million today. This money would have been used to pay for goods, including opium, taken on in Bengal and sold in China. The sale of opium was a lucrative side deal for any captain and also helped finance East India Company administration and the Napoleonic Wars. For more information about Portland Museum’s Diving into the Digital Archives of the Earl of Abergavenny project click [here](https://portlandmuseum.co.uk/earl-of-abergavenny/)