Gold has many uses in STEM fields, namely the electronics used to power and run the very thing you are typing this on! It is a consumable in that field. Fiat currency will likely flop. I would rather buy Platinium group metals (Iridium, Ossmium etc) or silver and gold due to their physical, high electric conductivity properties, density and use in technology (ie: catalysts, chemical feedstock, metallurgy, catalytic converters in cars etc etc). I am in a state of shock as to think that a PHYSICAL OBJECT has less value than an I OWE YOU piece of paper printed by governments which may change in the next 100 years. If you were to dump all gold and other precious metals into the sea then you would not see another computer, camera, phone etc for a while. Like wise it is used elsewhere in astrophysics for mirrors, visors and such. source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold#Modern_applications