What is it that draws us humans to gold?

I’m just a twin.

 

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Gold is one of the only metals that can be found in a natural state (not oxidized). Most all other metals oxidize and thus can look different in a natural state when found or dug out of the earth and must be processed to become pretty. When humans found that they could find it, shape it and melt it, it became desirable. Colored stones were also valuable because they were pretty. Oooh shiny! I want it! It has been valuable to humans for more than 5000 years. Something that retains a desirability for that long must be considered a good long-term investment as based on history, so it should continue to hold a value during our lifetimes. Nope it is not Tulip bulbs or bitcoin, but I think that is a good thing! It is nice to have something that can be relied on as lasting....

 

Greed... Yep, that's the ticket.

 

Its pretty

 

Nice penny.

 

Ive always wondered if gold being among the softest metals had anything to do with it.

The “Metals of Antiquity” which are the very first metals humankind used for benefit are:

1). Gold
2). Silver
3). Copper
4). Tin
5). Mercury
6). Lead
7). Iron

Among these gold is the softest and most malleable.

If religion was so central to every culture Gold would be the easiest and prettiest (objective some may think iron are pretty) metal available.

My own personal theory is that gold had an early religious use and due to religion being the focus of life in most of human history I believe it was desired for this reason.

What could be more valuable than something used to call the favor of the gods themselves?

But I think in later (but still very very ancient) times it no longer was used primarily for religious ornamentation but for things like royalty and ornamentation and eventually coinage.

That’s my own personal non-approved and un-peer reviewed theory.

 

I disagree that value creates desire.

When the first human found gold and brought it to their tribe it wouldn’t have had any value at all. It would have been a shiny rock that they had probably seen little flakes of before.

But generally just a sparkly shiny rock.

First it had to have a function that would make it valuable due to its rarity creating a lack of supply and high value.

 

The Bible mentions silver ALOT too.

In Revelation it says:

“..And I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine!”

A denarius is silver.

 

Hmm but to that I would argue golds high value even among people and cultures with no religious beliefs of any kind and even more who were indeed religious but not of the Abrahamic religion. For example Buddhism or Hinduism or Confuscianism.

Not trying to be a jerk just a friendly discussion to try to come to an answer.

 

Apparently there was an exhibition in France where the highest and most honorable of Napoleon’s guests dined on…aluminum.

The lesser guests dined on mere silver.

Back then aluminum was extremely hard to refine and worth more than silver.

In fact the Washington Monument was plated with 100 oz of pure aluminum. A hefty price indeed.

 

Speaking for the male population its like bass boats and fishing lures, if its shinny we gotta have it.

 

Thats true but silver is even shiner. There are a lot of shiny metals actually.

Why gold in particular?

 

If you have not heard of it before, Google " Varna treasure "

 

Yep, it was more costly, and also novel. Metal utensils, almost as shiny as silver -- but light as a feather. Almost magical. At least until you tried to bear down too hard on it, and certainly not once the common people could afford t.

 

My own observations;
Going back for centuries gold has been recognized by rulers, governments, criminals, and honest individuals as a rare commodity. What makes it appear to be so rare? Perhaps it was difficult to obtain (mining) or because its ownership was restricted? Supply vs demand? Peoples willingness to pay premiums for it?
Just my two cents...

 

You can disagree all you want, it doesnt change the fact that value does in fact create desire and from the time you were a child you were taught gold is valuable.

Everything from rocks and seashells to metals and paper have been used as money throughout history and every single time people desired whatever was given value at the time. Like I said if ancient humans had chosen copper, granite, or sand etc and you would be making the thread about them instead of gold because thats what you would have been trained to view as valuable

Ancient humans picked something that was shiny that had no other purpose. It was deemed valuable because they said so

 

Two reasons:

The first is that it shines like the sun. As the most ancient cultures were sun worshiping in some way (it is a rather obvious thing to worship), this imbued gold with spiritual relevance.

The second is that it is immune to corrosion. This made it perfect for covering special objects of great importance that people wanted to stand the test of time. As many of these would have been ritual objects of great importance, this also elevated gold's status. It is also the reason why it became a primary store of wealth. It is scarce but not impossibly scarce, it is easy to work, and it is immune to corrosion.

 

Well it ain't magnetic
Some Pharoah's or Caveman's wife probably just thought she'd start a fad.

 

The tip of the washington Monument is a pyramid block 8.9" tall and made of aluminum. At that period of time, it was worth more than gold. The monument was not plated in aluminum.