The Treasure Hunt of an Antique Dealer

The Royal Potosi Mint, a legacy of Spanish colonialism, is a fortified building resembling a fortress, just beside the city center square.

I spent more than two hours visiting in the afternoon. After a circle, Zhang Nan, a senior collector who has collected silver coins for many years and has a slight paranoia about currency, can actually feel that he has gained some gains and was not in vain.

Not to mention this life, the previous life would have silver coins produced in Bolivia on hand. Until today, it is clear how the silver coins were produced 400 years ago, and why the poor slave laborers died of 8 million people!

Mita’s compulsory labor system. After the destruction of the Inca Empire’s creations was improved by the Spanish colonists, aboriginal men required four months of hard labor at a time, but in fact they often lasted more than a year, and the miners went down every day. The time was 18-22 hours, and death was obviously the only rest for those people.

The Indians who were confiscated by the "Mita System" were sentenced to death, with a death penalty of more than 75%. Relatives and friends would actually hold a funeral for these forced conscripts in advance.

Also, after the ore is mined, it is crushed by a water conservator, and then mercury is added. The silver in the ore is dissolved by the foot of a slave worker, and then the mercury is removed by heating and distillation. Every process is life-threatening!

Mercury, very toxic!

The death rate of more than Indian slave laborers was too high and the labor force was insufficient. The Spaniards also brought a large number of black slaves from Africa every year. Because these people could not adapt to the plateau climate, the death rate was said to be higher than that of the natives!

After the silver is refined, it is basically made into currency locally.

Manufactured in the 18th century, it is huge in size. The iron-wood coin press that runs through the upper and lower floors is powered by donkeys and people. As for the equipment for manually making silver coins in earlier times, it looks a bit like a private briquettes.

The last visit to the Mint was related to hammer smashing—making “old coins” as souvenirs by traditional methods, and the museum provided copper or silver pieces.

If the tourists are not strong enough, the staff will use a big hammer to help.

Of course, most tourists have to pay for this, and the silver coin embryos are also relatively expensive.

Zhang Nan asked for a round silver embryo. Without the help of the bodyguards, he knocked out a silver dollar "Earth Double Pillar" with a big hammer. It felt that it was more commemorative than the silver Kappa coin given to him by the museum.

After playing the silver circle for so many years, I actually made a "new version of real silver silver dollar" today-in fact, this is not entirely true. The steel molds used by tourists to smash souvenirs are modern replicas, and the coin embryos are also new. But the mold provided for Zhang Nan really has a history of more than two hundred years!

What's more interesting is that the curator of the museum told Zhang Nan that the coin embryos provided to him, a special guest, were made of smelted silver that was left over a long time ago and was originally used to make silver coins.

According to antique circles, these are old silver, old molds, and old equipment. Only the person who hit the hammer is new.

That's the problem!

Zhang Nan himself smashed this good-looking "Earth Double Pillar" silver dollar. Is it genuine or a new version?

Thinking of this, Zhang Nan himself felt a little funny!

Before leaving, Zhang Nan did a very meaningful thing, and felt refreshed after finishing it.

In the VIP lounge of the museum, President De Losada was there, city officials and the curator of the museum were also there, and Zhang Nan asked Tom in the hotel to send someone to send one hundred thousand dollars in cash.

They are all on the edge of the central square, and the distance between the hotel and the museum is very close, less than 300 meters.

The money was packed in a large document bag, and Zhang Nan handed it to the museum curator. He also solemnly said: "I have benefited a lot from this visit. Here, I learned about the history of this great country, Bolivia, and deeply felt it. To the suffering that the people of this great country have suffered...

I have visited many museums in the world over the years. During the visit today, I saw that there are still some vacancies in your museum. According to my personal feelings, of course, if there is something wrong with what I said, I would like to ask the curator and everyone to correct me.

Personally, when the museum reflects the squeeze and suffering of labor mining and smelting in the past, it can also be more intuitive, instead of a few models and text descriptions, so that visitors from all over the world, of course, also include Bolivia’s own country. It’s easier to understand the real history..."

Zhang Nan is sponsoring the museum to set up an exhibition hall. One hundred thousand US dollars is enough. The suggestion is very sincere. Even Gonzalo de Losada, the white president, thinks that he has made a lot of sense, not to mention the curator and the mayor.

The museum's price exhibition hall can't use so much money, and the city hall can get some benefits. This is the President's order, Mr. Mayor patted his chest and Mr. Curator is very grateful, saying that he must get an exhibition hall suggested by Mr. Allen. It's in line with history, and it's shocking enough!

When the new exhibition hall is completed, the photos and video tapes must be sent to Zhang Nan. Of course, if Zhang Nan comes again when he is free, it would be even better!

I left the museum contentedly, the money was thrown out, and I was in a good mood, Langrieglang!

Throwing money around, too much money?

Zhang Nan was not so kind. He used tons of treasures he fished out of the sea for nothing, this is adding a block to Spain!

After all, in addition to the wealthy people in Bolivia, a large number of tourists from all over the world come to Potos for adventure tours every year. The Royal Mint Museum is also a must-see.

Civilized Spanish?

More savage than barbarians, since this trip came across, I will go through the old accounts along with it, and put roots in the horns.

One hundred thousand dollars for a good mood, worth it!

I stayed in the hotel with a good mood, and by the way, I watched the singing and dancing performance with a strong Spanish style. This is the performance team specially transferred by Mr. Mayor, which is considered the highest level in Potosí.

Returned to La Paz by plane the next day, but at the airport Zhang Nan said goodbye to Derosada temporarily, and Mr. President returned to the presidential palace in the city.

Going out for a few days~www.wuxiaspot.com~ Even if he is the president no matter how idle, there is still a lot of work waiting for him.

As for Zhang Nan not going to the city, the high-altitude gold mine is too lazy to go, this time I am going to the mine in Batalhas near Lake Titicaca.

Marco Rubio and Monte Bolivar have already made arrangements there in advance, just waiting for the boss to come!

Before, I was either visiting or watching the excitement. This would stand on the top of the mine hill which is only three or four kilometers away from the lake shore. In front of it is the azure blue lake and the surrounding mountains. The top of the mountain is snow-capped. ,

However, the beauty of Zhang Nan's attraction is the same. The current development part of the mine is on the side facing away from the Great Lake, which is the focus of this trip.

Turning and going down the mountain, just a few tens of meters below, nearly a hundred miners were waving their tools and digging manually.

It's not mining. These days, miners have a good job: digging stones and dirt, and there are security guards watching them.

High wages, dig slowly.