Gold is one of the oldest stores of valus, intertwined with the history of money itself. Gold coins were some of the early types  of currency, and until the 20th century gold was the basis of national currency in the form of the Gold Standard.

Although most currencies have now moved to a fiat system, many investors still purchase gold bullion in the form of coins. The price of gold is subject to excessive volatility compared to other assets, but it tends to have an inverse relationship with the value of the stock market. For example, the S&P 500 lost over 50 percent of its value between 2007 and 2009 during the global financial crisis. During the same period, the price of gold  steadily rose. For this reason, many investors purchase gold as part of a diverse portfolio that will hold its value regardless of market conditions.