The Collaborative International Dictionary
Maravedi \Mar`a*ve"di\, n. [Sp. maraved['i]; -- so called from the Mor[=a]bit[=i]n (lit., the steadfast), an Arabian dynasty which reigned in Africa and Spain. Cf. Marabout.] (Numis.) A small copper coin of Spain, equal to three mils American money, less than a farthing sterling. Also, an ancient Spanish gold coin.
Wiktionary
n. (context historical English) A former Spanish coin and unit of currency, originally issued in gold but later in silver and copper, discontinued in 1848.
Wikipedia
The maravedí was the name of various Iberian coins of gold and then silver between the 11th and 14th centuries and the name of different Iberian accounting units between the 11th and 19th centuries.
Usage examples of "maravedi".
As he passed along he would every now and then draw a maravedi out of his pocket and bestow it on a beggar, with an air of signal beneficence.
I would not have given ten maravedi for my head when those children of the devil were pushing us against the wall.
The maravedi at this time was equal in coin value to about two-thirds of a cent.
I ordered each one to be given something, such as a few beads, ten or twelve of those made of glass on a thread, some timbrels made of brass such as are worth a maravedi in Spain, and some straps, all which they looked upon as most excellent.
That income, being valued at that said time at from forty-four to forty-five million maravedis annually in the three districts of Castilla, Toledo, and Andalucia, dropped to twenty-two millions because of the new imposition, thereby losing a like sum annually.
The first man to sight land was supposed to get a yearly pension of 10,000 maravedis for life, but Rodrigo never got it.
To be sure that Jordi would carry out his mission, he would give him a few maravedis, and the hope that Dona Eulalia would give him more when the note was delivered.
Before they left that day, they thanked the peasant woman for her hospitality and left her a few maravedis, which she stared at with amazement, as if she had never seen a coin before.
This was divided into 375 maravedis, which therefore had a value of about two-thirds of a cent each.
October appointed him a captain in the navy at a salary of 50,000 maravedis a year.
That income, being valued at that said time at from forty-four to forty-five million maravedis annually in the three districts of Castilla, Toledo, and Andalucia, dropped to twenty-two millions because of the new imposition, thereby losing a like sum annually.
The first man to sight land was supposed to get a yearly pension of 10,000 maravedis for life, but Rodrigo never got it.
His legerdemain can transform zechins and byzants into doits and maravedis.