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and many evaded them by smuggling, shipping, and selling metal to Asia, among other<br />
things.<br />
The “Royal Fifth” was changed to the “Royal Tenth” after the Spanish realized<br />
what was actually happening. Over time and around the world, the price of silver fell,<br />
due to the vast increases in supply from the Americas. This can be seen through the<br />
increase in the gold-to-silver ratio, depicted in the chart below. For example, in England,<br />
wages increased to 4.1 grams from 3.4 grams over the period 1600-1650 from 1550-<br />
1599. Each 50-year period, the same thing happened through 1800. Wages increased to<br />
5.6 grams, 7.0 grams, and then to 8.3 grams by 1800.