A permanent symbol of power. 
Since the dawn of history gold has been a much crazed for item in succeeding civilizations, where it symbolized wealth and status. From Antiquity Egypt established its power through its enormous gold reserves (the abundance of gold in Pharaonic Egypt is evidenced by the wealth of archaeological discoveries, like Tutankhamon’s tomb). Then came the age of Greece with the mines of Thrace and Macedonia and the gold imported from the Caucasus. Then the Persians, under Cyrus II, made the first gold coins. Then gold became synonymous with political power. Under the Roman Empire, it was the only metal used to make coins (monometallism). The demand for gold increased with the Middle Ages and they assumed a tangible shape through the adventure of the Conquistadors and the quest for Eldorado. A similar attitude was reproduced in the 19th century with the American Gold Rush. 
In 1998 the twelve main central banks held a total of 22, 368 tons of gold. 
The intrinsic qualities of gold 
This yellow metal is mainly characterized by its great malleability and stability. 
This is the most precious metal after platinum, resisting any attempted inroads by acids or bases and it is a good electricity and heat conductor too. Gold is also the most ductile metal (it can be stretched out without breaking). It has a fusing temperature of about 1060°, its atomic number is 79, with an atomic mass of about 197 grams. 
Origins 
Gold is found pure or as an alloy with other metals, among others silver, brass and iron. It is present in seawater as micronutrients. Gold is mined from quartz gangues (the largest gold nugget yet discovered weighed 350 kg). It can also be extracted by washing gold-containing sand. Its refining is usually done by electrolysis. 
Uses 
The great bulk of gold production goes to the gold reserves guaranteeing the value of money. 
Part of this precious metal goes to jewel making, the manufacture of prosthodontics and of ruby glass. 
From high purity gold, it is possible to make gold leaves that are as thin as 0.0001mm. 
Gold alloy is used in jewels. The gold content of pure (or fine) gold is 1000/1000° (formerly 24 carats). Generally the gold used has a content of 750/1000 (formerly 18 carats). 
The name ‘gold’ is legally restricted (by the law 94-6 of 04 January 1994) gold work with contents of 916 and 750/1000°. The other compounds with a lower proportion of gold are not entitled to be called ‘gold’, but rather ‘gold alloy. The various colours of 750/1000° gold (formerly designated as 18 carats) result from the dosage of the metals alloyed with pure gold, the latter being always present in the same quantity.

Yellow gold: Alloy with 75% of gold, 12.5% of silver and 12.5% of copper. 
Pink gold: Alloy with 75% of gold, 5% of silver and 20% of copper. 
White gold: Alloy with 75% of gold, 15% of silver and 10% of copper.