How To Buy Gold And What To Look For When You Are Purchasing Gold

Since the initiation of the recorded history, gold has possessed a strong significance for the production of coins, using in art products and jewellery. Gold belongs to the class of pure metals. It is very thick and has a shining surface. It is also quite soft and pliable. Gold has always been a prime tool for fiscal exchange. Gold ingots are acquired and stored by gold keepers as an instrument to circumvent possible inflation and other likely fiscal problems. But, the most prominent use for Gold has been in the making of jewellery. Some particular applications that require a lot of energy utilize Gold as the metal in their system.

The rates of gold have been in few thousands of INR per gram. When the idea of physical investment comes into picture, Gold is often the norm. This is because of its undeniably splendid shine and highly attractive tenor. This makes the idea of possessing gold, highly attractive. Gold can be bought in several types such as gold bars, jewels, gold coins and bullion.

A lot of ways are there to buy gold bars. The typical method is to go to a jeweler and buy gold. But, this type of purchase is not exactly an investment. However, when purchasing gold, it has to be ensured that it is pure and authentic. The color associated with pure gold is yellow with metallic appearance. Prior to the purchase of gold, it is good to ensure that you know the price of the gold ingots from a trusted source.

During the purchase of Gold bars, have a good idea as to why exactly the purchase is being made. If the reason for the purchase is pleasure or as gifts, then the type of gold that is in your mind most likely is either jewellery or gold coins that can be collected. One thing that must be kept in mind is that when gold jewellery is sold after once buying it, its value is not comparable to the original value with which it is bought. Another thing of note is that gold can be sold quite easily as coins.

Gold never is outdated in the world. Make sure that the quality of gold through karat is known before buying it. Ensure that the dealer through which you are buying gold is trustworthy.

Gold bars are the best option if the idea is to invest. Dealers are there who can sell you bars. Usually gold is bought in increments of one ounce. Be careful and alert when you are dealing with gold purchases.

Different Ways to Own Gold and Precious Metals

Ways to own Gold
Should I own Gold coins or bars? Coins can be tricky if you engage in the numismatic coin trade which has less to do with the buying, holding, and trading the commodity, and more to do with the rarity of the coins. My opinion is if you can get a vintage coin close to the spot price of Gold then fine, but if not, then you need to remember that you are buying a coin filled with commissions paid to the broker. Remember you are buying precious metals because you feel the dollar's value is diminishing and you are looking for a hedge against inflation. So don't detract from your goals when looking at metals as an investment. Now as far as regular bullion coins and bars, I don't feel there is any difference to be honest, at the end of the day Gold is Gold right? The only leverage legal tender coins can give you is that there is a market for particular coins and some people have a preference as to what type of coins they own as opposed to bars or generic Gold coins. Personally, I feel that if Gold goes to the levels authors such as James Turk says Gold is going to, then I don't feel that anyone will be turning your gold away. Now there are large institutions that will sell you Gold Such as Monex, Gold Line, Merit Financial, and North West Territorial Mint. The only issues I can find with these larger institutions is there lack of ability to negotiate a fair price with there customers, and then when times get really busy they are not prepared to handle large scale volume. Such complaints have been posted as in the website monexfraud.com. Although I have never know Monex to commit fraud personally, there is a sense that they post there ads to get you in the door to buy Gold and then bait and switch you into their Atlas Trading account which uses leverage as a means to over obligate the consumer into paying interest on an over leveraged account. This was not the intention of the buyer in the first place which is why I don't like their method of advertising. Now my feeling is that if you want to trade the commodities there are other tools to use other than a leveraged account (which is not bad if that is what you want to do), but the issue is weather or not everyone getting into the Monex Atlas accounts really know what they are getting into. If you want to trade, then trade, but if you just want to buy and hold then that should be your game. Now concerning the other dealers I mentioned, they are fine I suppose, but try getting through to Northwest Territorial Mint when it is really busy, or call Gold line without having them try to sell you rare coins instead of bullion! Remember your spreads and the commissions you pay. Now there are other ways that people buy Gold such as by using Exchange Traded Funds Gold can carry concerns about authenticity and purity, as well as storage and insurance costs. But you can shed those worries and still own a chunk of gold by investing in exchange-traded funds that make buying and selling gold bullion as easy as buying and selling stocks.
The share price of street TRACKS Gold Shares roughly tracks the price of gold and represents an investment in gold bullion. In effect you get to own gold without the hassle of storing and insuring. "With GLD, each share is priced at about one-tenth the price of gold bullion. If gold goes to $1000 an ounce, then the price of a share should be about $100,"
There are fees associated with exchange-traded funds, but they're usually low. In addition, expect to pay a commission to your broker for each trade. But remember some very important features of the ETF derivatives and are not redeemable in Gold you have to take, ask yourself the question, if the dollar crashes do you want the US Dollar, or would you want the Gold? Also, the questions has been raised if the Comex really has the Gold on hand that GLD trades, and the fact is that GLD doesn't carry all the Gold they are supposed they only hold about 25% of the Gold they are supposed to have on hand, the rest is most Gold paper certificates. Owning Gold this way is not Gold ownership, but if you don't care and are only here to trade the volatility of the market then it doesn't really matter then does it? Owning Mutual Funds, ETF's and Gold mines is not Gold ownership, you own Gold to hedge against risk. Gold Stocks got hammered when the stock market crashed last Oct, while Gold held it's own against all the asset classes. It is really the difference between diamonds being worth more then the ring it sits on. Mining stocks reflect the profits of the company. If it costs the company $600 an ounce to dig up gold, pay employees, gas and the like, and gold is selling at $900, their profit is $300. If the price of gold rises to $1200 their profits have doubled, so the stock is more volatile. But it works the other way, too. A drop in the price of gold could flip flop a company from one that's profitable to one that's bleeding. So this is a play on Stocks and not the metal itself. I recommend holding some Gold in your possession and then believe it or not, hold Gold in a country that does not have a history of Gold confiscation. Although when the U.S. Government confiscated its citizens Gold we were on a Gold Standard so in order to expand the money supply they needed more Gold then they had. So why would they need it now right? Since we no longer practice the Gold Standard they should not need our Gold correct? At the end of the day they can change the rules on us at anytime, so you should hold some Gold in Europe or Australia, both of which are regions that are friendly to Gold ownership. You can also own Gold in jewelry but this is because you like it, not as an investment. If you buy 14 karat gold, it's less pure than investment grade. When you sell you'll need to consider the purity of the gold and, more than likely, it will have to be refined to bring it up to investment grade. This is going to cost you money and take away from the purpose of hedging.

4 Bullion Coin Facts – 6 Exciting Tips To Purchase Them Right

There is a category of coins called bullion coins. These are high value coins. Not only do their supply is limited, they originate in special places such as shipwrecks, sunk ships found at the sea-bed, or from excavation sites where signs of some past habitation has been discovered, etc. There are people who collect such precious coins. Here we describe bullion categories based on the metals and each metal you have sub-categories.
1. Silver Bullion
Silver coins are among the best known bullion coins. They are quite popular and belong to the category of expensive collectible items. Internet has many sites selling them online along with other expensive items.
Another high priced coin popularly showcased on online websites is the silver ingot. It is believed to have been recovered froma treasure wreck such as the sunk Spanish ship, Atocha which contained treasure and artifacts; silver ingots were found among them. Another theory is that they came from some dilapidated Colorado Mines where miners had hidden them.
The officially sealed Maple Leaf silver coins, from the Royal Canadian Mint, are also fashionable among coin collectors. Then you have half dollars featuring the Walking Liberty, or a dealer roll of first strike 1994 American Eagles, besides Masterpieces from Franklin Mint.
2. Gold Bullian
For people who collect gold bullion, there are well known gold coins known as Krugerrands from South Africa. Among other popular options you have the European Gold Crowns of the period between late 1800s to early 1900s, the Canadian Maple Leaf gold coins and the American Eagle coins. You may also want to go for British sovereigns, Swiss Helveteas, or the French Roosters. These are available on Internet.
Also available online are 10-ounce Swiss gold bar, American eagle proof set and the China Gold Panda set. You can also look for gold bullion in the American Eagle, Rounds, Bars, Mixed Lots and in other categories of coins on the Internet.
3. Platinum Bullion
This is the least common form of bullion compared to the other two. Notable platinum bullion comes in Eagle sets, the French Statue of Liberty coins and Koala proofs. Recently, some safety vaults of the collapsed World Trade Center have yielded a crucible dish made from platinum bullions, an Engelhard platinum bar, and the Johnson Matthew Year of the Dragon coins.
4. Bullion as Special Gift
If you wish your bullion collection can provide thoughtful gifts for spaecial occasions like birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, etc. for your dear ones. For example, a bullion bar can be a unique birthday gift if it features a happy birthday greetings. Likewise, say for a wedding anniversary, you may select bullion featuring the wedding year. A bride may expect 24-karat gold or silver flakes as her wedding gift from her groom.
How to buy bullion coins
Buying bullion coins can be highly expensive. Here is a check-list of what to do when buying bullion coins:
1. Decide on what type of bullion you want to buy beforehand.
2. Try finding out the preference of the person for who you want to buy and ask if he/she can accompany you for purchase.
3. Find out the delivery cost and estimate the total cost.
4. Ensure that the seller will deliver in time, particularly while ordering online.
5. Don't make instant payments.
6. Investigate the seller's background and his reputation.
No doubt bullion coins are expensive, but they can be used beautifully to express intimate sentiments on special occasions in one's life. No other form of gift can do that so beautifully.

Buy Gold – Wise Investment Options

As one of the world's leading precious metals refineries and fabricators, PAMP is particularly well regarded for its pioneering spirit, as evidenced in 1977 by the introduction of a wide variety of decorative designs on the reverse side of its ingots, also known as 'small bars.'*

An industry first, the aim has been not only to extend the frontiers of bullion bar concepts, but also to place new emphasis on the intrinsic beauty - and therefore value - of precious metals overall. As a result, the extensive collection of decorative motifs has opened up new doors for ingots as a memorable gift, suitable for all occasions, in every market.

Today, PAMP controls more than half of the world market for gold bullion bars weighing less than 50-grams. The introduction of Fortuna-embellished silver, platinum and palladium bars has also met with resounding international success. Signed, Certified packaging guarantees the qualities, weight and assayed precious metal content of every bar leaving the refinery.

Motifs range from mythological and astrological themes to religious icons, and from historic monuments to botanical renderings.

The most famous of these designs is of course the exquisite Lady Fortuna™, which quickly became the calling card of PAMP. Hangers are available for pendant wear, along with proprietary, multi-colored holograms, as both a decorative and security feature.

Fortuna is the first decorative motif to ever decorate precious metals bullion, an emblem that has heralded PAMP's superior quality products and services worldwide for nearly a quarter century. Indeed, only the Roman goddess of fortune can so admirably convey the ideals and prestige of the world's leading independent precious metals refinery.

For centuries, buying gold has been recognized as one of the best ways to preserve one's wealth and purchasing power. Gold is a unique investment, one that has served mankind well for thousands of years. From the times of ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans to more modern times, man has been fascinated with the beauty and magic of gold, and with its power to change men's lives. Gold bullion is real, honest money...and, many say, the best form of money the world has ever known. It is a store of value and a safe haven in times of crisis. Gold is rare, durable and does not wear out in the manner of lesser metals (or paper!) when passed from hand to hand. A small amount, easily carried, can purchase a significant amount of goods and services. It is universally accepted, and can be easily bought and sold around the world. Today, the beauty of a gold bar lies in its ability to diversify investments, protect wealth and preserve one's purchasing power. Gold bullion bars are real, tangible assets, and throughout history, have been an ideal store of value and an excellent hedge against inflation, deflation and political uncertainty. They are extremely liquid investments, easily stored and transported, and can be a uniquely private way to preserve one's wealth.

The first gold coins produced in America, the original $10 gold "Eagle" coins, were originally minted by the United States Mint starting in 1795. More than two hundred years later, U.S. gold coins—perhaps some of the greatest symbols of American liberty and freedom -- are still produced with levels of quality and beauty that one would expect of the United States Mint.

First released by the United States mint in 1986, the gold American Eagle is the first modern bullion coin to be authorized by the United States congress...and is backed by the US Mint for its weight, content and purity.

Each gold American eagle coin features striking imagery, symbolizing the American spirit and character. The obverse of the coin, originally designed by Augustus Saint-Gaudens for the country's $20 gold piece minted from 1907 to 1933, carries the image of a full length figure of Lady Liberty holding a torch in her right hand and an olive branch in her left. In the background can be seen the images of the sun rising and the United States Capitol dome. The obverse side of the coin also bears the inscription "Liberty" and contains both the date of issue and the individual mint mark of origin. The reverse side of the coin bears the image of a male bald eagle carrying an olive branch, flying towards his mate in a nest with their hatchlings.

American eagle gold coins are available coinsbullions.com website in four different sizes and denominations. The one-ounce gold American Eagle has a diameter of 32.7mm, a thickness of 2.87mm, a total weight of 1.0909 troy ounces (or 33.931 grams), contains one troy ounce of pure gold, and has a face value of $50. One-ounce gold American Eagles are sold in units of 10 one-ounce coins.

The half-ounce gold coin has a diameter of 27mm, a thickness of 2.24mm, a total weight of .5454 troy ounces (or 16.966 grams), contains a half- ounce of pure gold, and has a face value of $25. The quarter-ounce gold coin has a diameter of 22mm, a thickness of 1.83mm, a total weight of .2727 troy ounces (or 8.483 grams), contains a quarter-ounce of pure gold, and has a face value of $10. The tenth-ounce gold coin has a diameter of 16.5mm, a thickness of 1.19mm, a total weight of 0.1091 troy ounces (3.393 grams), contains a tenth-ounce of pure gold and has a face value of $5. American eagle gold coins provide investors with the means to diversify, balance and stabilize a well-rounded investment portfolio, all with the safety and backing of the United States government and the U.S. Dollar.

Canadian Maple Leaf gold coins are known and respected throughout the world because of the impeccable standards of quality mandated by the Royal Canadian Mint. The Royal Canadian Mint's insistence upon flawless coins, the pure gold blanks from which gold coins are struck, has led to an enviable reputation among demanding investors and collectors. Its impeccable quality, pleasing design, and fine gold purity (at ninety-nine point nine-nine percent pure gold, or "four-nines" fine) has made the Canadian Maple leaf one of the preferred gold coins of investors around the world. In fact, the one troy ounce gold Canadian Maple Leaf has been in continuous production longer than any other pure gold bullion coin.

Each gold Maple Leaf coin features the image of Great Britain's Queen Elizabeth the second, along with the denomination and date of issue, on the obverse side...and an image of Canada's national symbol, the maple leaf (from which the coin derives its name), on the reverse side, along with the name of the country and the level of purity of the gold, listed in both English and French.

The classic one troy ounce coin, which measures 30mm in diameter with a thickness of 2.87mm, makes the coin approximately the same size as an extra thick United States half-dollar. The coin carries a face value of 50 Canadian Dollars. One ounce Canadian Maple Leaf gold coins are offered by coinsbullions.com in units of 10 one-ounce coins, and are available and the coins make a wonderful addition to any investment portfolio.

The half-ounce coin has a diameter of 25mm, and is 2.23mm thick, which gives this coin similar dimension to a double-stacked United States quarter, and carries a face value of 20 Canadian Dollars. The quarter-troy-ounce Canadian Maple Leaf coin has a diameter of 20mm, with a thickness of 1.78mm, and a face value of 10 Canadian Dollars. The tenth-ounce gold Maple Leaf has a diameter of 16mm and a thickness of 1.13mm, making it comparable in size to a United States dime, and carries a face value of 5 Canadian Dollars.

Gold Sovereign

Gold Sovereign is a gold coin that was issued in 1489 for Henry of England. The Gold Sovereign is still in production today. The gold sovereign had a nominal value of one pound sterling, the coin was officially a piece of the bullion that had no mark of value on the coin. The name "sovereign" derives from the enormous and impressive size and portraiture of the coin, in which showed the king's face and sitting on a throne. The back of the sovereign showed the Royal Coat of Arms on a shield by a Tudor double rose. The original sovereigns were made of 23 carat gold and came in with a weight of 240 grains or also known as one half a troy ounce. The coins' purity was then reduced by Henry VIII to 22 carats, which now remains to be the gold coin standard in both England and the U.SHalf sovereigns, two pound dobule sovereigns and five pound quintuple sovereign coins were also made by Royal Mint. In 2009, The Royal Mint released a new coin, the quarter-sovereign. Unites, Laurels and guineas replaced the sovereigns after 1604. In 1817, the production of the sovereigns began again, which showcased a portrait of Saint George killing a dragon, which was engraved by Benedetto Pistrucci. British gold sovereigns still has this design today. The removal of half sovereigns and worn sovereigns was a practice done by the Bank of England and to have them recoined. Coins were melted down into gold bars when sent to the U.S. when used as international payments between governments. This was due to the Federal regulations. A lifespan of up to 15 years of a sovereign coin in circulations was estimated before it fell down to the least current weight. If a sovereign weighs 122.5 grams or more in England, it is considered legal tender. Only 1% of all gold sovereigns that were minted have been reported to be in collectible condition.  Large quantities of sovereigns were produced until the war of World World I. This is when the UK came off the gold standard. The only production of sovereigns were produced at Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Bombay, Ottawa and Pretoria until 1932. Production resumed in 1957, which was to prevent the coin to be counterfeited in Italy and Syria.

Coins, Investment With A Future

Millions of people are now facing different kinds of financial crisis. Everyone is tightening their belts just to make enough for the family. Yet there seems no end to the problems. Salary cutbacks are everywhere. Employees have no choice but to accept the offer or they would lose their jobs. All are now looking for something that can help them sustain a stable and secure financial condition. But what can someone who is hardly making enough invest on? Buying stocks can be costly, and it is very unstable. One day you can be earning more than you imagined possible and the next day you're trying to sell as much as possible because stocks went down. Investing on a business can be tiresome and may not produce the desired results. But there is still an option to save assets.

Coins have been collected since ancient times. It is used by millions of people for payment or trade, and has been striked using very precious metals like gold and silver. Now the use of gold and silver coins is not tied down to only trading and collecting. It is also used as financial stabilizers by many investors. How can coins stabilize one's finance. Dollar value has decreased to the point where other countries would not hold on to it for trade. Inflation causes prices to rise up and decreases the number of items that can be bought with small amount of money. Silver and gold coins have been going the opposite way. They are maintaining their high value over weight. When precious metals decrease in price, it is usually a cue to buy more. Hoarding is very rampant when paper currency shows no progress. Many countries are buying gold to remove their worries of loosing profits. But with micro investors, how can they do the same with gold.

Gold and silver can be bought in different forms. There are bullion bars, jewelry and the ever popular coins. Coins have beautiful designs on it. Like jewelry, they are very nice to look at. It can be stored in bulk without damaging its value. It is easier to transfer because it has a face value unlike bullion bars. Because of this, coin is the best choice for many investors. They are easy to sell which means that they are almost as good as cash on hand. Most importantly, they have proven their consistent high value for almost 8 years. Something that cannot be denied by skeptics.

How to invest in a gold IRA

There are a countless number of people who use their IRA to buy gold because there is higher chance of getting appreciation in their money. Here the question arises, that how you can go for buying the gold using your IRA. If you go on the web, you cannot be able to get the sufficient information on this topic because surfing the web for unbiased information on the gold can be extremely difficult. Here are some Gold IRA investments options and ideas that can be helpful for you while going to buy gold witty your IRA. Gold IRA - Trading Types The most common trading types in gold IRA are as follows: 1. Coins – They are included in an actual physical entity. Some kinds of gold coins can be held in an IRA. The most important thing is that gold coins are not collectible and they do not require to be proof.Bullion Bars – They are physical gold bars that cost ten grand. The cost of bullion bars depends on the price of an ounce of gold. They can be held in an IRA. They are heavy in weight. 2.Gold Exchange-Trade Funds – They are counted as the derivatives that help in tracking the up and down of gold ounce value. 3. Mining Company Stock/Gold Mutual Funds – They are the self-explanatory gold IRA investment option. 4. Gold Certificates- The come in the category of a document that helps you in tracking the record that when and where your IRA owns X amount of bullion held somewhere. E-Gold IRA: Trade Online You can also find options of e-gold or digital gold that are the same as bullion bars. If you are going to buy gold using your IRA, you need to be very alert because there are various duplicate vendors available in the market today who can easily make you fool. If you are really serious about buying gold using your IRA, Online trading will be the best option for you from where you are able to trade at anytime with no hassle.

Pamp and Credit Suisse Bars are Refined to the Highest Standards of 99.99% Fine Gold

Each gold bar is of 24 karat gold purity and has the exact purity and weight stamped on each gold bar, then sealed for your safety and security. The pure gold content of each Credit Suisse gold bar is fully backed by the world renowned Credit Suisse Bank of Switzerland. Each bar is also stamped with a unique serial number to authenticate the bar. These bars come in gold, platinum, silver and palladium. We sell unique gold 10 gram pamp zodiac bars which have the zodiac sign. They come in Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces. These bars can be worn as jewelry items when placed in gold bezels. Bezels are available in many sizes, 1 gram, 2.5 gram, 5 gram, 10 gram. By investing in gold physical precious metals, such as gold, platinum, silver and palladium, you will avoid the drama of the stock markets paper investments. It also does not have the staidness of parking your money in long-term debt products. Metal prices have been volatile, but well within ranges and though the metal has had a strong run in 2007 and 2008 with fairly high prices, analysts expect there will be a further appreciation. Looking at what the crude oil market has been in the last few months is an indicator of where the metals market is heading in the near future. The time is still right in purchasing gold or other precious metals as it is a commodity that still has legs for a good run. Near future prices of gold in the range $1000-$1200 per oz for gold is only a matter of time as gold investment money will flow into precious metals do to the still uncertain global economy. Buying bullion bars and uncirculated mint coins buying as physical investment is the right choice. Online purchase of the coins and bars can be a very easy process with secure transactions provided by coinsbullions.com

Why Invest in Gold and the Many Ways to Invest in Gold

The price of gold itself is up over 50% from its lows in 1999. Graded gold coins are up 70% in the last three years. Futures and options on gold have soared. Who knows how many thousands of percent you'd have made by investing in gold?

There are many major factors that make gold a great investment right now. Gold coin sale is still cheap, while stocks are expensive. In January of 1980, both the Dow Industrials and the price of gold were at the same level: 800. Now, nearly 24 years later, the Dow is near 10,000, while gold is less than half its January 1980 value. There are some great opportunities in gold stocks.

Governments will make our money worth less to pay off their record debts. Governments can print money to pay off their debts. But they can't create gold. The supply of paper money can be infinite. But the supply of gold is extremely limited (they say that the entire gold production in the history of the world could fit on the basketball court.

Gold should do well in extreme bear markets. Silver more than doubled in value from 1932 to 1936 during the Great Depression (the price of gold was fixed by the government). The next long bear market was 1968-1980. Silver rose from around $2 in 1968 to a peak near $50 in 1980.

Gold stock will rise during inflation… and during deflation. Investing in gold is good inflation protection… gold rises as the value of the dollar falls. As the government lowers interest rates significantly and wildly prints money (creating inflation) to offset that deflation… leading to substantially higher gold prices. This is where we are now, and gold has done what it's supposed to do.

When you buy gold coins, you lower risk in your investment portfolio. In the past, gold has tended to do the opposite of stocks…it skyrocketed in the 1970s, when stocks did horribly. Then in the 1980s and 1990s, when stocks soared, gold lost over half its value. Now in the new millennium gold has soared while stocks are still below their year 2000 highs I consider these to be the best opportunity right now. While gold stocks are up nearly 500%, investment grade gold coin investment (those that carry a grading of Mint State (MS) 63 or higher from the grading agencies PCGS or NGC) are 'only' up 70%. These coins peaked in value in 1989. They subsequently fell by 85%, bottoming in 2001. There is still 100% upside on the table here, and your downside is limited (since you're close to meltdown value).

To own gold directly, you can buy common gold coins or small bars of gold. Common gold coins are known as 'bullion' coins. These include popular coins like Krugerrands or Canadian Maple Leafs, and they cost just a few dollars more than the current price of gold. These don't have extraordinary upside or downside, they simply move with the price of gold.

Are you ready to invest in precious metals? Coins and bars bullions are the choice of any smart investor under the current financial circumstances of world economics. While the paper dollar is still devaluating, your gold investment will only increase in value.Reputable sellers online can provide direct access for your immediate investments in precious metals such as gold bars.

Value Of Rarity And Beauty Of Gold

Gold has been called the most beautiful of all chemical elements. Its beauty has made it desirable for use in jewelry, coins, and artwork for thousands of years. It was one of the first pure metals to be used by humans. Gold is one of the few elements that can affect politics and economics. Wars have been fought over access to gold. Cities and towns have sprung up and died out as gold was discovered and then mined out. Many nations still count their wealth according to the amount of gold they keep in storage.

Gold lies in the middle of the periodic table. It is a heavy metal in a class known as the transition metals. Gold is also known as a precious metal (as are platinum and silver). Large amounts of gold are still used in the manufacture of coins, medals, jewelry, and art. Gold also has a number of uses in industry, medicine, and other applications. For example, one radioactive isotope of gold is commonly used to treat cancer. The chemical symbol for gold, Au comes from the Latin word for gold, aurum which means "shining dawn."

Gold objects dating to 2600 B.C. have been found. They were discovered in the royal tombs of the ancient civilization of Ur. These objects showed that humans had already learned how to work with gold this early in history. Some of the gold, for example, had been formed into wires. One of the special skills developed by the Egyptians was the adding of gold to glass objects. They found a way to use gold to make glass a beautiful ruby-red color. The glass became known as gold ruby glass.

Gold is also mentioned in a number of places in the Bible. A passage in Exodus, for example, refers to the clothing worn by Aaron: "And they did beat the gold into thin plates, and cut it into wires, to work it in the blue, and in the purple, and in the scarlet, and in the fine linen, with cunning work." Writings from every stage of human history tell of the discovery and use of gold. Roman historian Pliny the Elder (A.D. 23-79), for example, describes gold-mining locations. The Romans found it lying in stream beds in the Tagus River in Spain, the Po River in Italy, the Hebrus River in Thracia (now Greece), the Pactolus River in Asia Minor (now Turkey), and the Ganges River in India.

One of the most famous items using gold is the Olympic gold medal. Athletes from around the world dream of coming in first place at the Olympics. That means they can step up to the winner's podium and wear their gold medal proudly. But the gold medal isn't solid gold. It's actually made out of silver. A thin layer of gold covers the silver. The last time a solid gold medal was used in the Olympics was 1912. Christopher Columbus found gold nuggets lying in the bottom of rivers and harbors in Haiti. Gold has long been known in the New World, too. During a visit to Haiti, Christopher Columbus (1451-1506) found gold nuggets lying on the bottom of rivers and harbors. A Portuguese explorer in 1586, Lopez Vaz, wrote that the region called Veragua (now Panama) was the "richest Land of Gold [in] all the rest of the Indies." In the United States, of course, the most famous story about gold occurred in the late 1840s. Thousands of people flocked to California in search of gold. This era was called the Gold Rush. People became very rich or found nothing at all during this exciting time in history.

Gold is both ductile and malleable. Ductile means it can be drawn into thin wires. Malleable means capable of being hammered into thin sheets. A piece of gold weighing only 20 grams (slightly less than an ounce) can be hammered into a sheet that will cover more than 6 square meters (68 square feet). The sheet will be only 0.00025 centimeters (one ten-thousandth of an inch) thick. Gold foil of this thickness is often used to make the lettering on window signs. Gold is quite soft. It can usually be scratched by a penny. Its melting point is 1,064.76°C (1,948.57°F) and its boiling point is about 2,700°C (4,900°F). Its density is 19.3 grams per cubic centimeter. Two other important properties are its reflectivity and lack of electrical resistance. Both heat and light reflect off gold very well. But an electric current passes through gold very easily.

Generally speaking, gold is not very reactive. It does not combine with oxygen or dissolve in most acids. It does not react with halogens, such as chlorine or bromine, very easily. These chemical properties also account for some important uses of gold. Gold coins, for example, do not corrode (rust) or tarnish very easily. Neither does jewelry nor artwork made of gold.

Gold occurs in nature in both its native state and in compounds. The native state of an element is its free state. It is not combined with any other element. The most common compounds of gold are the tellurides. A telluride is a compound of the element tellurium and one or more other elements. For example, the mineral calavarite is mostly gold telluride (AuTe2). At one time, gold was found in chunks or nuggets large enough to see. People mined gold by picking it out of streams and rivers. In fact, gold was once very common in some parts of the world. People valued it not because it was rare, but because it was so beautiful.

The abundance of gold in the Earth's crust is estimated to be about 0.005 parts per million. That makes it one of the ten rarest elements in the Earth's crust. Gold is thought to be much more common in the oceans. Some people believe as much as 70 million tons of gold are dissolved in seawater. They also think there may be another 10 billion tons on the bottom of the oceans. So far, however, no one has found a way to mine this gold. About a quarter of the world's gold comes from South Africa. Other leading producers of the metal are the United States, Australia, Canada, China, and Russia. In the United States, about two-thirds of its gold is mined in Nevada. California, Montana, Alaska, and South Dakota also produce gold.

The most famous story about gold in the United States might be the Gold Rush of 1849. As early as the sixteenth century, records contained stories about a great El Dorado ("the gilded one," in Spanish; gilded means "covered in gold") on the western coast of the United States. Tales of this magical city were repeated for centuries.

In the late 1840s, explorers began to travel from the Eastern seaboard to California in search of El Dorado. The flow of visitors was slow at first. Gold was first discovered in 1848 at a place called Sutter's Mill. Sutter's Mill was located near the present town of Coloma, California. Word of the discovery spread quickly. Within a year, thousands of men and women made the long, expensive, and tiring trip. Most people traveled across the United States in covered wagons or on horseback. Many of them had to cross mountains, plains, and deserts. Because of the difficult conditions, many people and animals got sick or died. Some people traveled around Cape Horn at the bottom of South America or across the Isthmus of Panama. No matter which route was used, the journey usually took months.

As people arrived in California, hundreds of mining camps sprang up. Some of them had colorful names. Poker Flat, Hangtown, Red Dog, Hell's Delight, and Whiskey Bar were just a few! Mining for gold was hard work. Gold miners usually wound up being wildly successful or terrible failures. The Gold Rush of 1849 completely changed the state of California. It also helped expand the United States. At one time, gold was found in chunks or nuggets large enough to see. There is only one naturally occurring isotope of gold, gold-197. About two dozen radioactive isotopes of gold are known also. One radioactive isotope of gold is widely used in medicine, gold-198. This isotope has two major uses. First, it can be used to study the liver. It is made into a form known as colloidal gold. Colloidal gold consists of very fine particles of gold mixed in a liquid solution. The colloidal gold is injected into the patient's body, where it travels to the liver. There, it can be detected because of the radiation it gives off. The radiation can be used to tell if the liver is functioning normally or not.

In a 1986 study, experts estimated that 121,000 tons of gold had been mined throughout history. Colloidal gold is also used to treat medical problems. In some forms of cancer, the body develops large amounts of liquid in the space around the stomach and intestines (the peritoneum). One way to treat this collection of liquid is with colloidal gold. The colloidal gold is injected into the peritoneum. It is not able to Leave the peritoneum and go into the stomach and intestines. While in the peritoneum, the colloidal gold gives off radiation. The radiation kills cancer cells that cause the accumulation of fluid.

There are at least two main ways to remove gold from its ores. One is to mix an ore with mercury metal. Mercury combines with gold in the ore to form an amalgam. An amalgam is a mixture of two or more metals, one of which is mercury. The gold amalgam is then removed from the ore. It is heated to drive off the mercury. Pure gold remains.

Which weighs more: A pound of feathers or a pound of gold? Teachers sometimes try to fool students with this old question. The answer would seem to be easy: a pound is a pound. A pound of feathers and a pound of gold should weigh the same amount. But that is not quite true. In the English system, most substances are measured using the avoirdupois system. In the avoirdupois system, there are 16 ounces to the pound.

But gold is weighed differently. It uses the troy system. In the troy system, one pound contains only 12 ounces. So, a pound of feathers (avoirdupois system) weighs four ounces more than a pound of gold (troy system). The weight of other precious metals, like silver and platinum, are also measured using the troy system. Gold is also weighed in carats. A carat is defined as one fifth of a gram, or 200 milligrams.

Gold is seldom used in a pure form. The metal is too soft. It would bend or break if used pure. Instead, it is used in combination with other metals called alloys. An alloy is a mixture of two or more metals. The mixture has properties different from those of the individual metals. The amount of gold in an alloy is expressed in carats. Pure gold metal (mixed with no other metal) is said to be 24-carat gold. An alloy that contains 20 parts of gold and 4 parts of silver is 20-carat gold. The "20-carat" designation means the alloy contains 20 parts of gold and 4 parts of something else (silver, in this case).

Gold stored in a national bank can be 24-carat gold. It is never used for any practical purpose. But gold used for any real application is almost always less than 24 carats. It must include other metals that make it stronger and tougher. Gold ores can also be treated with potassium cyanide (KCN) or some other kind of cyanide. The gold combines with the cyanide to form a new compound, gold cyanate. The gold cyanate is then treated with an active metal, such as zinc. The active metal replaces gold in the compound, leaving pure gold.

In a 1986 study, experts estimated that 121,000 tons of gold had been mined throughout history. Of that amount, about 18,000 tons were used for industrial, research, health, and other "dissipative" uses. Dissipative means that the gold was gone once it was used. It was made into devices that were eventually thrown away. The gold could not or was not recovered from the devices. Of the remaining 103,000 tons of gold, about a third (35,000 tons) had been made into gold bars held by national banks. The gold bars are used as security for national money systems. In the United States, for example, the nation's supply of gold is stored at Fort Knox, Kentucky.

Finally, the remaining 68,000 tons of gold are owned by private individuals. This gold exists in the form of jewelry, coins, or bullion. Gold bullion are bars or other large pieces of pure gold. Jewelry is the largest single use of gold. In 1996, about 3,290 tons of gold were made worldwide. Of that amount, nearly 85 percent was made into jewelry. The second largest use of gold (about 213 tons, or about 7 percent) was in industrial devices and consumer products. Some examples include electrical contacts and switches, laboratory equipment, printed circuits, dental alloys, instruments on space vehicles, and nozzles used in the production of synthetic fibers. Gold is not required to maintain good health in plants or animals. It can be injected into a plant or animal without causing harmful effects. Some medical and commercial uses are based on this property.

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