spesmilo

English

A one-spesmilo coin

Etymology

From Esperanto spesmilo.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /spɛsˈmiːləʊ/

Noun

spesmilo (plural spesmiloj or spesmilos)

1. (numismatics) An obsolete unit of Esperanto international currency (symbol ⟨₷⟩ or ⟨Sm⟩).
   • 1907 October, “Remarks”, in Arthur Baker, editor, Amerika Esperantisto [American Esperantist], volume 2, number 3, Chicago, Ill.: American Esperantist Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 57:

     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.

   • 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:

     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).

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

     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).

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

     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.

   • 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:

     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.

See also

• stelo

Esperanto

Spesmilsignoj.

Etymology

From speso (“speso”) +‎ milo (“group of one thousand”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /spesˈmilo/
• Rhymes: -ilo
• Hyphenation: spes‧mi‧lo

Noun

spesmilo (accusative singular spesmilon, plural spesmiloj, accusative plural spesmilojn)

1. (numismatics) An obsolete unit of Esperanto international unit of currency used by a few banks before World War I, equivalent to 1000 spesoj.
   • 1910, L. L. Zamenhof, Proverbaro Esperanta:

     Fremda spesmilo estas sen utilo.
     Kiu speson ne tenas, tiu al spesmilo ne venas.
     Spesmilo superflua poŝon ne ŝiras.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

Abbreviations

• ₷
• Sm

See also

• stelo