Compensation received by pirates for the loss of a limb or body part 17th century

In contrast to the lawless and tyrannical picture that is often painted in popular culture, most reliable sources indicate that 17th century pirate society was actually very democratic, often with progressive attitudes towards race, sexuality and workers rights (for that time period). In terms of workers rights, pirates usually had compensation schemes for injuries sustained while on the job. According to this list, the most valuable limb was the right arm, which was worth 600 pieces of eight, while the left arm was worth just 500. Pirates would also receive one hundred pieces of eight for every finger they lost, or for an eye. There were additional reports of pirates receiving almost equal compensation for the loss of prosthetic legs, as reliable and sturdy prosthetics were difficult to come by. This data relates to just one source from the late seventeenth century, and compensation values often varied from crew to crew.