Doubloon Quotes

“Juan Esteban removed his gloves and raised the lid of the exquisite case to reveal a solid gold apple adorned with a reliquary silver crucifix embedded in the face. Juan Esteban held the heavy lemon sized orb in his bare hand and slowly wiped his thumb back and forth across the crucifix and asked, “How did you get it to be so flawless?”
“It takes time. This was the fourth casting. The first three were good, but not good enough for a king,” Mateo replied. “This one is perfect.”
The general had acquired a portion of a gold and silver shipment from the Santa Fe mint at
Bogota to fulfill his personal mission to exalt favor with King Philip V of Spain. It was this
ruler who had entrusted the general with command of the armada.
As a devout catholic, Juan Esteban envisioned a holy gift to honor his king. With the expertise of this goldsmith, the golden orb was created in secrecy. An apple
represented Adam and Eve’s ‘original sin’ and the crucifix symbolized Christ Jesus’ redemption of mankind. General
Juan Esteban de Ubilla christened the casting as the Temptation of Paradise.
“Yes, this one is perfect,” General de Ubilla replied.
“You are a fine artisan. Now, before I leave, you must break the molds. There will never be another casting.”
“But Your Excellency, I should retain the mold as you may one day require another,” Mateo pleaded.
“There will be no others. This is the one. This is the only one,” he emphasized.
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
“And Mateo, if word reaches me that another orb exists?”
“Yes, master?”
“I will have your hands removed.”
― Jim Kelly, The Temptation of Paradise