Gold is a commodity that hold it’s value over time. Unlike paper currency and other metals such as aluminum, copper, and nickel, gold, as well as silver, will never be declared as worthless. In fact, gold and silver are very important assets for you to have around should world economies crash.

Gold is a naturally occurring substance, so it has always been around. However, it was first controversially thought to be found by Paleolithic Man in Spanish caves, around 40,000 B.C. Obviously the Paleolithic man would have no real use for the precious metal, and historic sources actually can’t agree on the first time that gold was discovered and used.

Other sources believe gold wasn’t discovered until about 6,000 B.C., and still, different sources say that it was 3,000 B.C., and it was first discovered by Egyptian pharaohs and temple priests who would decorate their dwellings with it.

In any case, gold has always been revered as a precious, valuable, sacred metal, meant to be reserved for gods and kings. The reason it has been thought to be in such high regard is traced back to the Egyptians who probably realized how scarce and beautiful it was to look at.

Because of this, gold has been used to make artifacts around the world, meant to signify everything of value from religion to currency. Let’s take a look at some of the most spectacular golden artifacts you can actually see in person.

The Midas Touch

Start your travels in New York City and visit The Museum of American Finance to witness what it must have been like to be King Midas. An exhibition titled “Worth Its Weight: Gold from the Ground Up” shows off artifacts made of gold that are sure to make the list for quirkiest things ever constructed from the metal.

The collection includes a golden mousetrap, a Monopoly board made of solid gold, and a golden toilet seat fit for a royal behind. If you’re into gold, this is the first place you’ll want to stop.

The Golden Model Aircraft

It has always been thought that human flight was impossible until a series of inventions and discoveries made it possible for the Wright Brothers to successfully fly in the year 1903. This history is widely taught and accepted, but how interesting would it be if other cultures knew how to fly before we did?

Ancient artifacts have been found in Egypt that suggest this very thing. Artifacts resembling modern day airplanes were found in tombs not only in Egypt, but also in Central and South America. The artifact, made of gold, makes it hard to date, but it’s thought to be over 1,000 years old. The current whereabouts of this artifact are hard to place, but there are many golden artifacts  like it in museums around the world.

In conclusion, gold is a substance that has captivated the attention of people for centuries. It is still extremely valuable today and is unlikely to lose that value. Though you might not be able to own any of the artifacts you see in museums around the world, you can certainly collect gold through other means. In fact, it’s wise that you do.