I think we are wrong on this one.... It wasn't "Spain" that was responsible, (so to speak)...but the independent operators of given license by the Spanish government. We don't typically blame Britain, (or any other European government) for the slave trade, we point fingers at the "slavers". So it is true for Spanish colonialism. The Spanish government levied the "quinto real"... or one fifth the value of what was mined, (or looted)... again... not mined by the Spanish government. Gold and silver not coined had tax stamps on them. Several coming up for auction next month at Stacks/Bowers. I have to agree with Crow here, the treasure onboard the galleons were not Spanish government property. The guns, yes, the cargo, no.
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