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Real Money

Since recorded history, gold and silver has endured as a symbol and measure of value, influence, wealth and power.

For millenniums, gold and silver has been considered and accepted as real money. Civilizations and cultures in different parts of the world have embraced the use of gold and silver in business, trade and gifts. They are the most widely accepted precious metals throughout the ancient world and even today.

Gold is a highly valued metal with limited global supply. It is shiny, soft, dense, extremely malleable, very easy to work with and does not tarnish, rust or oxidize in air or water. In many parts of the world, gold is extensively used for all kinds of jewelry.

There are many other uses for gold; in electronics, computers, dentistry, glassmaking, medicine and aerospace. Gold is an excellent conductor of heat and electricity. It can also readily alloy with other metals and is durable, portable and easily divisible.

Silver is a precious metal which is soft (although harder than gold), white and lustrous. Like gold, it is malleable, ductile and can be highly polished. While stable in pure air or water, silver tarnishes when exposed to air or water containing ozone or hydrogen sulfide.

Silver is also limited in global supply although it is considered less valuable than gold. Silver has the highest electricity conductivity of any element and the highest thermal or heat conductivity than any other metal.

Silver is a very useful metal and has wider industrial and other applications than gold. Silver is used for electronics and conductors, in mirrors, photographic film, medicine, jewelry, ornaments and dinnerware. 50% of all silver mined today is earmarked for industry and other uses and the remainder converted to bullions and coins.

On a lighter note, silver can be used to kill a werewolf or so the legends say.

Want to know more?

• The Silver Standard
• The Gold Standard
• The Bretton Woods System
• Breaking the Link
• Fiat Money