Obviously, the history of silver goes way back. One can speak of a time of silver fleets, one that is still very well known in the Netherlands.

So read the first lines of the victory song ‘De Zilvervloot’, not entirely familiar to many as it fell into disuse at the end of the 20th century. Just after World War II, it was taught at school, and liked to be sung at national events. A fun detail is that Spaanse matten is a Dutch nickname for Spanish silver coins.
The capture of the silver fleet by Piet Hein is legendary proof of the attractive prey that the transports of silver and gold from this area were for pirates at the time. The value of the silver transported was priceless.
The proceeds came from Spanish interference in the colonies. In this, silver was the driving force behind world trade on Asia and was in fact the means of exchange for other valuable goods at that time.