The timeless allure of gold: from ancient currency to tokenised asset

Gold has long served as the cornerstone of global finance with its history as a form of money dating back to 550 BC when the first gold coins were struck in Lydia (modern-day Turkey). Over centuries, gold evolved from a tool of commerce to the very foundation of the global monetary system. The Gold Standard era enshrined its importance, linking paper money to physical reserves and shaping the financial policies of empires and nation-states alike. Even after the collapse of the Gold Standard, gold remained a symbol of wealth and a hedge against economic uncertainty. Notably, the World Gold Council has curated over 150 historical documents spanning from 1660 to 1999 that reflect gold’s changing role with the compilation beginning with the rise of the Gold Standard (1660–1819), featuring UK-focused documents that highlight the legal, cultural and economic groundwork laid for gold as a monetary anchor. It then transitions into the heyday of gold (1820–1930), covering global debates, the e…