THE STORY OF GOLD



Discover the (abridged) story of gold. Learn how this precious metal shaped and guided humanity and civilisation.

Our tale unfolds around 3600 BC, marking the dawn of a new era—the smelting of gold. Gold is a typically inert metal found in an already pure form but humanity discovered that if it was heated with other metals it could be shaped and strengthened into useful forms. This technique is believed to have originated in ancient Egypt, laid the foundation for the centuries-long
love affair between humanity and the glistening precious metal.

Simultaneously, on the other side of the ancient world, a revolutionary development was underway. In Lydia, the legendary King Croesus was pioneering the creation of the world's first standardised currency.

His refined gold minting techniques ushered in the era of 'Croesids'—coins with uniform gold content that could be traded anywhere with confidence.

More ancient coinage started appearing in many corners of the globe. At the fall of the Roman Empire in the west, their other outpost in the east in Byzantium (or Roman Constantinople) minted coins with the portrait of their ruler, Theodoric, on one side and a figure of Rome on the other, with the caption ‘Invicta Roma’ (unconquered Rome).

In the 18th century, the dawn of steam power ushered in a transformative era known as "The Age of Steam," forever altering the landscape of coin manufacturing. Before the advent of steam, the maximum coin production using horsepower was limited to around 30 coins per minute. However, with the introduction of steam presses, this output immediately doubled. To put this into perspective, today's high-speed electric presses can effortlessly produce 850 coins in a single minute.

The visionaries behind this revolutionary shift were Matthew Boulton and James Watt, who ingeniously harnessed the power of steam to drive milling and blank-cutting machinery. Their ground breaking invention, first implemented in 1786 at the Soho Mint in Birmingham, marked a turning point in coin production. Initially utilised for striking coins for the East India Company and various British trade tokens, the steam-powered machinery supplied by Boulton and Watt to the Royal Mint in 1809 became a cornerstone of the 'Great Recoinage' of 1816-17. This pivotal moment in history not only increased the efficiency of coin production but also laid the foundation for the advanced technologies that shape the modern minting industry.

In the contemporary landscape, gold's allure has transcended its historical reverence, finding itself at the heart of cutting edge technologies that would leave ancient civilisations marvelling. Modern innovation has unveiled new and diverse applications for gold, rendering it an indispensable element in the realm of advanced electronics and beyond.

Satellites, mobile phones, computers—these technological marvels now rely on gold in ever-increasing quantities, showcasing its rare and essential properties. The ancients, who held gold in high esteem, would undoubtedly covet it even more in the face of these transformative applications. Take, for example, your smartphone, where microscopic amounts of gold play a crucial role in ensuring the flawless functionality of its complex internal circuitry.

Beyond the realm of technology, gold has emerged as a valuable asset in the field of medicine. It contributes to the creation of highly targeted drugs designed to navigate the intricacies of the human body. Moreover, gold's versatility extends to the production of conducting plastics, specialised pigments, and advanced catalysts capable of purifying water or air. In this age of discovery, gold has transcended its traditional roles, becoming an indispensable partner in shaping the present and future of technology, medicine, and environmental solutions.