Gold is one of the first metals known to be used
and prized by man. It was probably first, primarily because
it occurs naturally in a usable form. Other metals, such as
lead, tin and copper, did not seem to inspire the same passions
and desires.
Because gold resists the actions of naturally occurring chemical
processes, objects made from it not only last forever, but hold
their beauty as well. Other materials may have been used more
extensively than we have evidence for, but have been lost due
to natural forces destroying them. Traces of metal objects are
often found as oxides and in forms that are hard to confirm
as even being man made.
Gold has been so prized that it was, at one point in time, used
extensively as currency. Many countries today still use it to
partially back up their national currencies and produce limited
numbers of gold coins.
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