The quality of silver was another problem. In 1612 the Florida officials sent over 1,000 reales’ worth of miscellaneous pieces to the House of Trade for the receptor of the Council to buy them presidio weapons. The silver from Florida turned out to be of such low fineness that no one would accept it at more than 43 reales the mark. The crown demanded to be told the source of such degraded bullion and specie. In reply, the royal officials admitted that part of the consignment was in adulterated silver and clipped coins, but they had sent it as it had been received in fines, which the crown, in order to retire what was debased, allowed to be paid in any silver bearing the royal mark. They protested, however, that most of the offending silver had come from New Spain and could not be used in Florida, where the soldiers were supposed to be paid in reales. Certainly the base alloy had not been added to the silver while it was at their treasury. [Note 28: Council to the House of Trade 3/27/1612; Juan de Arrazola, Andres de Sotomayor, and Joseph de Olivera 10/8/1612] AN106 (Bushnell KC)