Learn About The History Of Gold

Gold

Since the beginning of time, gold has enjoyed a unique and prestigious place in the hearts and minds of men. It is estimated that man first discovered gold around 5,000 years ago. The discovery, pursuit, possession, and trade of gold has impacted our society in many ways.

Gold is not only the first metal, but the first atomic element to be mentioned in the Bible.

And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads. The name of the first is Pison: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold; And the gold of that land is good:

Gold is probably the first metal to be used by humans. Prehistoric man encountered gold in its free form when collecting water from riverbeds. Because of its attractive nature, gold was valued for ornaments and soon became associated with the sun god, the provider of light, warmth, and nutrition. As a result, gold was used to make religious objects that were used in early religious ceremonies.

Almost 2,000 years before Turkish tribes invaded and devastated the region, the first coins were produced in Lydia between 643 to 630 BC. The coins were made of electrum, a naturally occurring mixture comprised of 3/4 gold and 1/4 silver. The first pure gold coins were introduced about a century later by the Lydian king, Croesus, who guaranteed the weight and purity of the coins with his royal stamp. The circulation of government-issued gold coins helped seal the image of gold as being one of the most valuable substances in the world.

Throughout the years, the search for gold has been a reason for mass migrations. During the 16th century, the promises of finding rich gold mines attracted Spaniards to Mexico and South America. In 1849, one of the greatest gold rushes drew around 40,000 diggers, later termed as the 49ers, to California. Australia’s population expanded from around 400,000 to 1,200,000 in ten years between 1851 and 1861. In 1896, more than 60,000 men converged on the Yukon in Canada near Alaska to mine gold, which continues at that locale until today. Several other discoveries of gold in Northern America have created mass relocations to South Dakota, Nevada, North Carolina, Georgia, and British Columbia.

The world’s largest producers of gold are South Africa, where the largest gold discovery ever occurred in 1886, the former Soviet Union, the United States, Australia, and Canada. Discoveries of gold have had a phenomenal impact during the 19th and 20th centuries. Increases in the supply of gold inflated the world’s currencies and eventually led to the adoption of the gold standard by most of the leading nations. While the gold standard has been abandoned by most, gold still remains one of the most valuable investments against economic downfall. Gold is accepted everywhere as a medium of exchange.

Scientifically, the Atomic Number of gold is 79 and its Atomic Symbol is Au. The symbol Au comes from the Latin term for gold, “aurum” and the English word “gold” is derived from the Old-English “geolo”, which means yellow. Gold is considered a transition metal, which means that it is both ductile and malleable and conducts electricity and heat.

Gold is always a welcome gift. Throughout the ages, gold has also played an important role as an expression of love and affection. A gold jewelry item is more than an object of beauty or love, it is an asset of enduring value, which can be passed from one generation to the next. The natural beauty of gold along with its malleability, rich history, and high value has made it the world’s most important metal in jewelry.
 

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