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Which valuables did Sir Francis Drake capture from Spanish ships during his circumnavigation?
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Sir Francis Drake
Sir Francis Drake, oil on panel, after an engraving attributed to Jodocus Hondius, c. 1583; in the National Portrait Gallery, London.
During his circumnavigation of the world between 1577 and 1580, Sir Francis Drake captured several valuable items from Spanish merchant ships. These prizes included:
- Bars of gold and silver1
- Minted Spanish coinage1
- Precious stones1
- Pearls1
In addition to these treasures, Drake seized provisions at ValparaĂso and later successfully acquired spices in the Moluccas. Upon his return to Plymouth in 1580, his ship, the Golden Hind, was laden with these goods, which permanently established his fortune.1