Cautionary Tales · Stop No. 45
Spanish Empire
“Silver and gold”
- Era
- Habsburg Spain, 16th–17th century
- Provenance
- Potosí to Seville, with losses
- Medium
- Gold-ground lithograph, two ochres and black
- Edition
- Devalued edition
The chest holds more silver than Europe had ever seen, and Spain still managed to go bankrupt four times in one century. Importing a mountain of money turns out to devalue money — a lesson the Empire paid a mountain of money to learn. The coins spilling from the frame are trying to leave, as coins there always did.
On Display
The Gift Shop
- Museum Reproduction Tee
- Exhibition Poster