Over the centuries, gold has played a unique cultural role in societies across the world. Something ...

1. What Makes Gold So Special?
Over the centuries, gold has played a unique
cultural role in societies across the world.
Something about the metal gives it a transcendant
symbolic value: from the legendary treasuries of the
Aztec and Mayan empires to the Golden Calf of the
Book of Exodus, gold is implicated in the most
dramatic tales of ancient human history. Even
today, gold retains its cultural signficance. For an
Olympic athlete, a single gold medal represents the
zenith of achievement. The Palme d'Or, or Golden
Palm, is a symbol of supreme attainment in the film
industry. Only a handful of British monarchs have
managed to stick it out for half a century and earn their Golden Jubilee. And clearly there is a reason
why credit card companies designate their high-end offerings as "Gold Cards". But what is it about
real gold that captures our attention? What gives this yellow metal such value?
Like anything of real value, gold is rare. Only 3 particles per billion in the Earth's crust are gold.
Although the world's oceans hold vast amounts of gold, it is so dilute that attempts to recover it from
the salt water have never been successful. If all the gold ever refined were formed into a ball, it
would be less than 25 metres across. However, some gold does exist naturally in a relatively pure
state (as opposed to in an ore), enabling humans to gather it in small quantities without the need for
chemical extraction. And once harvested, gold is one of the most versatile metals on earth. It has
been crafted and shaped ever since the 'caltholithic', or 'copper' age, as early as 4000 BC, making it
one of the very first metals to be used by humans. The ancient peoples of Egypt and the Middle East
used gold for religious rites, as well as for ornamentation. The first recorded use of gold coins was
during the reign of King Croesus of Lydia around 600 BC. Gold is also more malleable and ductile
than any other metal. A single gram of gold can be beaten into a sheet one metre square. It is one of
the heaviest elements; heavier, even, than lead. Ten teaspoons of gold would weigh as much as
seventeen teaspoons of lead.
It has been customary throughout history to test the purity of gold by biting on it. Since pure gold is
soft enough to show teeth-marks, and cheaper alloying metals are usually harder, this method does
give some indication. More reliable tests, however, involve the use of nitric acid. The content of gold
in alloys is measured in karats (k). Pure gold is 24 karat, with the number of karats decreasing
proportionally as other metal is added.
Although too soft for ordinary use in its pure state, gold can be extremely hard and durable when
alloyed with other metals. Alloying also has other advantages besides increasing its hardness. The
distinctive yellow colour of gold is recognised throughout the world. However, a fascinating
spectrum of other colours can be created by combining small quantities of other metals with the
gold. Alloyed with copper, it has a rosy colour, with nickel, silver, or palladium it is white, with iron,
blue, and with aluminium, a purple hue. Pure silver gives the alloy a greenish tint, and rhodium or
ruthenium produce black. Gold in such forms is most commonly used in jewellery. "Colloidal" gold is
micro-particles of gold suspended in water, producing an intense red colour. Colloidal gold is used in
stained glass, and in certain applications for medical and scientific research.

2. In former years gold played an important role as a medium of exchange, mostly in the form of
valuable coins. Currencies were also backed by gold, but this is no longer the case. If you are looking
for the best deals on gold visit Merrion Gold website. You'll find out more about their big offer of
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Reserves of gold are still held by some nations as gold bullion coins, for example the Australian Gold
Nugget, or the British Britannia. The value of these coins is measured by their weight, rather than
by their face value, which, when it exists, is always significantly less than its true value. The world's
biggest gold coin was minted by the Canadian Royal Mint in Spring 2007. It is half a metre across, 3
cm thick, weighs 100 kg, and is worth nearly 3 million dollars, with a face value of $1,000,000.
These days, most gold is used in jewellery, but it is also widely used by other industries. Dentists use
gold alloys in crowns and bridges, and certain types of toners in the photography industry contain
gold. Even the food industry uses gold flakes or dust to enhance the appearance of exotic sweets and
drinks. Gold can be made into thread for embroidery, and beaten into micro-thin sheets called 'gold
leaf'. More durable than any paint, the real gold never fades or loses its lustre. In fact, there are
examples of gilding done by the Romans and Ancient Egyptians which still retain their brilliance
today, thousands of years on.
Far from being outdated, real gold remains superior to this day, adding a touch of brilliance to many
quality products today.
By: Olson

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Bernard Hibbs designs signs for Clover Signs - makers of carved and gilded house signs.
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