The symbolism of Gold over time

Gold has a quality that other metals do not have: it is unalterable.

Indeed, this precious metal can be melted and remelted, stored in all possible conditions without losing its beauty or its properties. It does not rust or tarnish.

It is also the ideal metal for making coins since it is almost unforgeable. Its density is so particular that the use of counterfeit parts would be immediately noticed by a specialist.

It is also the only metal to have such an attractive color, similar to that of the sun, symbol of power. Its malleability has allowed goldsmiths to create pieces of unprecedented beauty.
The second quality of gold is its rarity. Indeed, the amount of gold on Earth is distributed unevenly and the largest amount is found near the core. Fragments still managed to reach the earth's crust. In the past, gold was found in the form of nuggets, along rivers or in mines.

Unfortunately today, it is rare to find gold within reach in the form of nuggets. Man must therefore dig very deep into the ground to find it.

These two qualities make gold beautiful, precious, and almost inaccessible to humans: it is rare, which increases its value.

The symbolism of gold
Since its discovery, gold has been a metal with a strong symbolic character. Due to its color, which is reminiscent of the sun, it has become a symbol of power and light. Its symbolism varies according to culture, but it is always linked to light. In ancient Egypt, it is linked to the sun and therefore to the god Ra, but it is also defined as being the flesh of the gods.

Gold is used almost exclusively to adorn the pharaoh. Indeed, when he dies, a funerary mask is placed on his face in order to “fix” him forever. In Mediterranean cultures, it is the symbol of warmth, fertility and abundance.

Gold is later very present in the Bible. It represents holiness, purity, spiritual radiance and therefore divine light. It is therefore used in large quantities in the design of altars in cathedrals and churches, but also in objects of worship.

Gold therefore symbolizes light and perfection, but also spiritual wealth and the divine. This
symbolism is also taken up by all other religions. Particularly Buddhism which is represented by Buddha and his famous statue. It has the distinction of being the largest solid gold statue in the world. In the Middle Ages, gold was rarer, and all the gold mined was accumulated by the king or wealthy lords owning the land where it was found.

Because of its rarity, during this period, gold was no longer used as money. It was put in reserve, hidden, and could be used to finance a new war. Later, during the “Gold Rush”, people no longer saw it solely as a symbol of spiritual or divine wealth.

Indeed, gold is seen as an investment that can bring them material wealth “for generations and generations”. Some manage to enrich themselves considerably. The symbolism of gold is still very important today, particularly used in sports.

It represents the supreme reward that an athlete can obtain, the gold medal. This therefore celebrates sporting performance.

Is gold within the economy synonymous with wealth ?
Well before the Roman Empire, it was in ancient Greece that gold seems to have taken an important place in its monetary function. The first gold coins found date from the 8th century BC. J-C. It is in Lydia that we discover the first traces of a massive use of gold as a reference currency.

King Croesus, son of King Alyttes, designed a currency in an alloy of very pure gold and silver: electrum. He succeeded in extending this currency into all the commercial transactions of his city and much further afield. At the time, it was a stable, unalterable currency and very popular with traders, particularly retail traders. From that moment on, owning gold and making gold coins became a political issue and a pretext for conquering new cities. Subsequently, the Roman Empire established itself in the use of gold and silver coins with its own currencies. Roman gold coins had a higher value.

Gold remained very important throughout the Middle Ages: armies, ransoms and tribes were paid in gold. However, the lack of gold forced, for several hundred years, the withdrawal of gold coins from different economic systems. Due to its rarity, possession of gold was a sign of wealth and power. The objective of kings and powerful lords was to store as much gold as possible to increase their wealth and their influence.

Gold coins subsequently returned, notably within the Kingdom of France after the Hundred Years' War. France has even set itself the objective of competing with the strong Spanish and English currencies. Gold retained its importance for a long time, it even became the “standard”, and guaranteed the stability of currencies around the world.

Then the era of the “Gold Rush” arrived in California. This American state had one of the last open-air gold deposits in the world. Its discovery caused a wave of migration of several thousand people to the state of California. In the 20th century, after the two world wars, the United States became powerful and influential in the world. Additionally, they hold 70% of the world's gold reserves. They impose the dollar as the universal standard. Until 1976, this was based on the price of gold. Today, gold represents an essential safe haven, particularly for investors. Even though the price of gold has undergone significant fluctuations over time, the possession of gold reserves remains a marker of stability and power.

Gold: an investment that lasts over time
Gold has proven its lasting stability over the centuries and eras. It remains the universal currency on Earth. In times of economic instability, war or global pandemic, investing in gold offers protection to our wealth. Indeed, unlike other forms of investment, gold will always have intrinsic value. If we take the example of real estate or stock market investments, in the event of a crisis, they become underperforming while gold prospers. Investing in gold allows you to protect yourself from inflation and deflation, but also from currency devaluations. If the dollar deteriorates, the price of gold rises.

It is therefore a much more stable investment than all currencies. In the eyes of everyone around the world, gold is a precious metal, so it is easily convertible into liquidity anywhere in the world, including those experiencing strong political chaos. Gold therefore allows you to diversify your portfolio and significantly reduce the risks associated with investment. There is no right or wrong time to own gold. In fact, the ideal is still to obtain it before a major crisis.

Nevertheless, even in the center of a crisis, if you have the opportunity to obtain it, you should not hesitate. If the crisis drags on, and it ends in a banking collapse, you can always use gold as currency to continue living and protect your assets. It is therefore important to build up a gold reserve. In addition, confidence in the economy and the banking system has been declining for several years. You must therefore look for alternative methods to protect your assets, and gold seems to be the best option.

Its value will always be based solely on the market price of gold. It offers a wise way to invest and protect your financial assets.

The lack of vision on the future of the French economy and Europe leads to a high probability that gold will continue to gain power. Its price on the global market will therefore continue to increase.

Gold, symbol of wealth and power
The symbolism of gold is, in fact, synonymous with wealth and power, but each era sees neither this wealth nor this power in the same way. Since its discovery, gold has the appearance of a powerful metal due to its unique properties and its rarity. Later, we give a more spiritual symbolism. Gold represents the power of the divine, and spiritual wealth. But it quickly became the center of the kingdoms economy.

Gold is therefore owned by kings and powerful lords. The more gold a kingdom or country has, the more threat it poses to its neighbors, as it can easily raise an army and declare war. Gold is therefore a symbol of wealth and material power.

Today, people who invest in gold see it as a symbol of wealth, but above all of security and power. This is partly due to the history of gold and the symbolism that has been attached to it for centuries.

But also the possibility of being able to emancipate oneself from unstable global economic systems.

This possibility offers enormous power to those who own gold. And contrary to popular belief, today, everyone can have one.

Sources:
http://www.24-carats.fr/histoire.html
https://www.gold.fr/informations-sur-l-or/faq/histoire-et-symbolique-de-lor
https://www.loretlargent.info/histoire-cours-or/

To start investing in Gold, come and discover our Gold bars and coins, for sale on
our website.