spesmilo

plural spesmiloj · plural spesmilos

1. hobbiesAn obsolete unit of Esperanto international currency (symbol ⟨₷⟩ or ⟨Sm⟩) with the value of one thousand spesoj.

   We shall be delighted to relieve you of a pair of spesmiloj, alie a dollar, and will use your money to create more Esperanto enthusiasm.

   American Esperantist

   1907 October, “Remarks”, in Arthur Baker, editor, Amerika Esperantisto [American Esperantist], volume 2, number 3, Chicago, Ill.: American Esperantist Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 57

   4 more examples

   To convert spesmiloj and spesoj readily into pence, divide by 4, disregarding the third figure to the right of the comma or decimal point (which figure is not always written).

   1918, Maurice Hyde, “The International Money Unit”, in The Esperanto Guide: A Complete Manual of the International Language for English-Speaking People, Melbourne, Vic.: Specialty Press, →OCLC, page 196

   They agree to repay the cost, together with the postage, of any article of consequence bought on their behalf,—cost to be stated in spesmiloj (half dollars).

   1919 February, “Office Notes”, in Amerika Esperantisto: American Esperantist, volume 23, number 6, West Newton, Mass.: American Esperantist Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 15

   As thus used by Esperantists before the First World War, the spesmilo equalled 50 American cents, 1 Russian rouble, or 2½ Swiss francs. Coins worth 1 and 2 spesmiloj were struck for Saussure in 1912.

   1987, Adrian Room, “spesmilo”, in Dictionary of Coin Names, London; New York, N.Y.: Routledge & Kegan Paul, →ISBN, page 202

   The organization that followed on his creation included ideas for a universal government that would prevent war as well as a universal currency. As a result of this idea, in 1912 silver pattern coins were struck in the denominations of one spesmilo and two spesmiloj.

   2012 November–December, Peter Horvitz, “Esperanto: New Language Challenges Fascism in the Spanish Civil War”, in Andrew Perala, editor, The Shekel, volume XLV, number 6 (246 overall), Fountain Hills, Ariz.: American Israel Numismatic Association, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 32, column 2