The Untold Story of Tlacos and the Birth of a Colonial Economy
Tlacos, a local currency in New Spain, caused chaos as shopkeepers refused them from other businesses. The Court of Faithful Execution pleaded with the Viceroy to regulate tlacos for a stable economy, urging shopkeepers to accept them across industries.
In New Spain, the lack of effective regulation in the acceptance of tlacos, currencies issued by shopkeepers and business owners, generated problems in commercial exchange. The merchants were not obliged to accept them; therefore, disagreements constantly arose, such is the case of the baker Don Juan Gallo, who asked the Court of the Faithful Execution to hear the case, in response, he issued a Superior Official Letter and ordered the creation of a file, urging shopkeepers to accept tlacos from various sources to promote local economic stability.
In New Spain, the exchange of tlacos was not regulated, which caused inconveniences, disagreements, and conflicts between merchants, since the various supply branches, such as shopkeepers, sailmakers, bacon makers, bakers, among others, did not accept tlacos from businesses apart from their own could affect income.
