How Much Was Columbus Paid for Discovering America?

At the time Columbus sailed from Spain, in August, 1492, the Spanish unit of currency was the maravedi, a small silver coin. Columbus was paid 2,000 maravedis a month, which at that time could buy a cow or five pigs.

Judging Columbus' salary in American money today, his two-month voyage to discover the New World earned for him $59.28!

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