How valuable was gold to the Aztecs compared to the Spanish?

Gold at that time had 2 uses. One as jewelry, the other as bullion/coinage. The Aztecs used it as jewelry only. The idea of money wasn't implemented by the Aztec culture. So they did not value gold the same way the Spanish did. read more

The list contained in total some 50 gold items, alongside many pieces of Aztec featherwork, clothing, jewellery, headdresses, animal skins, - even two codices. In amongst the gold items was a Spanish helmet that the Aztecs had - at Cortés’s request - filled with gold dust. read more

Cortes, with his 200 Spanish soldiers, saw an opportunity to ally with the enemies of the Aztecs and the enemies of the Aztecs saw an opportunity to destroy a hated oppressor. The alliance worked and in two years the Aztecs were finished. read more