Gold Coin
The enduring metal of kings and commerce.
A gold coin is a coin that is made mostly or entirely of gold. Most gold coins minted since 1800 are 90.0–92.0‰ gold (22 karat), while most of today's gold bullion coins are pure gold, such as the Britannia, Canadian Maple Leaf, Vienna Philharmonic, and American Buffalo. Alloyed gold coins, like the American Gold Eagle and South African Krugerrand, are typically 91.7‰ gold by weight, with the remainder being silver and copper.
- Type
- Collectible Currency
- Function
- Purchase Upgrades and Health
- Source
- Enemy Drops and Hidden Locations
- First Appearance
- Painkiller (2004)
- Franchise Role
- Economy System
Lore & Background
Gold was used in commerce in the Ancient Near East since the Bronze Age, but coins proper originated during the 6th century BC in Anatolia. The name of king Croesus of Lydia remains associated with the invention. In 546 BC, Croesus was captured by the Persians, who adopted gold as the main metal for their coins. Gold coins served as a primary form of money for millennia, only falling into disuse in the early 20th century. Most of the world stopped making gold coins as currency by 1933, as countries switched from the gold standard due to hoarding during the Great Depression.
In Their Own Story
The heavy thud of a demon's corpse hitting the stone floor echoed through the corridor, followed by the distinct, metallic clatter of gold rolling across the rubble. Dan Zmuda didn't pause to admire the loot; he kicked the pile aside, his eyes scanning the dark archway ahead for the next threat. Every coin counted. He scooped up the scattered wealth, the cold metal feeling like a lifeline in this burning nightmare.
Reader's Guide
Gold is denser than almost all other metals, making it hard to fake. A coin that is not gold or below the expected fineness will either be too light for its size or too large for its weight. Counterfeit coins since about 2015 have been flooding the market, often consisting of tungsten plated thinly with gold. Such forgeries can be detected by testing acoustic, electric resistance, or magnetic properties. Biting a coin to test its authenticity is a widespread cliché, but according to a 2017 study, the assumed practice of pirates biting coins is almost certainly a Hollywood myth.
Did You Know?
- The largest legal-tender gold coin ever produced was unveiled in 2012 by the Perth Mint: the 'One Tonne Gold Coin' with a face value of one million dollars, containing one tonne of 9999 pure gold.
- In 2007, the Royal Canadian Mint produced a 100 kg gold coin with a face value of $1,000,000, and at least five more were sold for $2.5 to $3 million.
- Gold is extremely unreactive chemically: it does not tarnish or corrode over time.
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