29 September 2023
Gold, an iconic and highly prized metal, is entrenched in global history and culture. Housed in the Bank of England’s vaults are over 400,000 gold bars. Originally from meteorites, most of the gold settled in the Earth’s core, with a fraction available in the crust. Its rarity and challenge in mining contribute to its value. Deriving its name from the Old English word ‘geolu’ (yellow), gold has been treasured for millennia for its beauty and symbolism. Its first monetary use traces back to Lydia, present-day Turkey, in the form of coins. Beyond its monetary use, gold’s durability, malleability, and conductivity make it invaluable in electronics, dentistry, and even astronaut visors.