Piece of Eight

The History Channel's "America, The Story of Us" claims that Britain controlled the currency in the colonies and the new world.

False!

Spanish currency controlled the colonies AND the new world.

The 8 Reales was the main currency in the colonies and in Mexico. Mexico was the first country to use the current dollar sign ($), which the united states later adopted.Whereas Britain has used the pound sign (£) as it's monetary symbol.

The Piece of Eight was the Spanish colonial "Real."

These "Reales" were the bonafide coinage of the colonies and the US until the Coin Act of 1857.

Info Source: wikipedia.org; Bounzer777
Image Source:  goldcobs.com