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13 dec 2012
The first Treasure bars ever made and recovered 400 years later
2 van 2 vinden dit nuttig The author has traced the history of a group of very special treasure bars that were found in the Bahamas in 1992 to the era when they were first cast. These "tumbaga" bars are very different from most of the Spanish treasure bars that have been found because they are made up of an unusual mix of metals and marked in a unique way. The reasons why are fascinating.
In addition to explaining why the bars are the different, the author, through his research of contemporary Spanish documents, has proposed a very strong argument that the bars are linked to the original conquest of Mexico by Cortez. The book describes the Cortez expedition and the offshoot expedition that actually recovered the metal and cast the bars. Emphasis is given to a history of the recovery of Mexican treasure while relating the conquest to what we learned in school. The names of people who were involved in the conquest are included. The fact that people who were involved in the conquest of Mexico can be linked to silver bars found in the Bahamas is a fascinating read.
The book includes an analysis of each bar found that is presented in a manner that anybody can understand.
The book also includes an appendix which presents a new translation of King Charles V's royal decree on the circulation of gold and silver in the New World.
It is a fascinating story and is well told. I highly recommend this book to anybody interested in treasure, treasure bars, or the conquest of Mexico.