Before there were coins in the
New World, before there were Spanish Treasure Fleets, and even before there
were any kind of European colonies in Mexico, the conquistador Hernán Cortés
and his men, through the Tarascan Conquest by Cristóbal de Olid in 1522,
discovered a new precious-metal mix that led to an improvised manufacture of
so-called "tumbaga" bars: a group of over 200 silver and gold ingots
discovered in the remains of an unidentified ca.-1528 shipwreck off Grand
Bahama Island in 1993.
These rare silver "tumbaga" bars found in 1993 are now a step closer to full
understanding. Through a study of contemporary accounts, archeological
research and historical sources, it is theorized that these strange ingots
were manufactured by the Spanish using a unique copper-silver “alloy” forged
by the Tarascans in Mexico as a source for their ornaments and offerings, a
particular type of metal the Spanish called "metal of Michoacán," seized by
the conquistadors in a single episode within the vast story of the conquest
of Mexico during the 1520s.
This book is divided into three parts: The first part chronicles the
earliest documents relating to the treasure accumulated by Hernán Cortés
during his conquest of the Aztec empire. The second part concerns the later
phase of conquest, specifically Captain Cristóbal de Olid’s campaign in the
region of the Tarascan kingdom in western Mexico. The third and final part
discusses technical aspects of these bars based on an interpretation of
their markings and manufacture.
The specimens studied in this book are the only ones known to exist—all of
them from the same wreck—and therefore they will always be of the utmost
rarity and historical importance. The book contains a data matrix for all
194 bars, including their weights, measurements, markings and descriptions.
Also featured are plates of 60 selected bars, maps, native drawings and
charts. Additionally there is a list of the names and roles of over 100
people from the “tumbaga” period, and an appendix with new translations from
Seven decrees of Charles V pertaining to the circulation of gold and silver
in the Americas and key chapters of Bernal Díaz del Castillo's Historia
Verdadera De La Conquista De La Nueva España.
152 pages, black and white illustrations, charts and maps.
Author: Agustín A. García Barneche
Editors: Daniel Sedwick and Cori
Sedwick Downing, published by Daniel Frank Sedwick, LLC.
Review: by Alan Sadwin
I was fortunate to see a pre-publication of this book as I had anxiously
awaited it for several years after hearing rumors that it was on the
way. I bought it the day it was published and can firmly state that it
was worth the wait.
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.
Daniel Frank Sedwick, LLC
P.O. BOX 1964 | Winter Park, Florida 32790
Phone: 407.975.3325 | Fax: 407.975.3327
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