Originally posted Saturday, September 01, 2012
Share
The gold standard has a superbly rich history (and future).
The World Gold Council is the trade association of gold producers. Its self-description:
The World Gold Council is the market development organisation for the gold industry. Working within the investment, jewellery and technology sectors, as well as engaging in government affairs, our purpose is to provide industry leadership, whilst stimulating and sustaining demand for gold.
Byzantine Marriage Ring, World Gold Council Collection
We develop gold-backed solutions, services and markets, based on true market insight. As a result, we create structural shifts in demand for gold across key market sectors.
We provide insights into the international gold markets, helping people to better understand the wealth preservation qualities of gold and its role in meeting the social and environmental needs of society.
Based in the UK, with operations in India, the Far East, Europe and the US, the World Gold Council is an association whose 23 members comprise the world’s leading gold mining companies, representing approximately 60% of global corporate gold production.
It has done the world a great service by compiling scores of invaluable historical source documents for ready reference.
Historical records back to the 17th century
To aid further research by scholars, journalists and all those interested in gold’s monetary role, the World Gold Council commissioned a compilation of extracts from key historical documents from 1660 to 1999.
Citations are provided for every source so as to facilitate the reader’s further research. These documents are therefore a valuable resource for researchers who seek even more in-depth knowledge of the history of gold.
Approximately 150 documents are divided into three sections that correspond roughly with the changing position of gold in the international economic system:
- The Rise of the Gold Standard, 1660-1819
- The Heyday of the Gold Standard, 1820-1930
- After the Gold Standard, 1931-1999
The Gold Council is pessimistic about the prospects for returning to gold: “Notwithstanding the philosophical arguments that exist today for a return to the classical gold standard, underpinned by concerns over inflation and central banks’ expansive monetary policies, there would be many hurdles.” It may prove of interest to the Council that each of these hurdles is meticulously addressed and resolved in The True Gold Standard, by Lehrman Institute founder and chairman Lewis E. Lehrman. Available from Amazon.
Recent Comments