Dutch

During the 17th century, the Dutch Republic's destiny rose not only because of maritime power and commerce, but also through legend. One of the longest-lived of those myths has to do with a sparkling silver ewer and basin—allegedly cast from silver captured from a Spanish treasure fleet taken in 1628 by command of legendary Admiral Piet Heyn. The raid was worth untold riches. And for almost two centuries, it has been rumored that part of that booty was melted down into ceremonial pieces now in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. But modern scientific and historical research reveals a more complex tale, with detailed finds published in the Journal of Cultural Heritage. A Hero's Spoils: The Capture of the Spanish Silver Fleet