@botanique Yeah, but during a severe drought, will my gold buy water? During famine, will it purchase me some food? In times of violence, will it buy me weapons? Please give specific examples within the last 75 years. Anywhere in the world is fine. Does not investing in gold assume the existence of an inflationary currency, of some form, with gold being a hedge? Does it not also assume at least some degree of power in a civilization to work as a medium of exchange? (I am reminded of the Rio Balsas region in Old Mexico in the 1960s. There was no government, no police. Just a free place to live. Money was alcohol, ammunition, knives, tobacco, and any food items. Gold and gold coins did not have much value.)