When was gold first used as currency? Gold is a precious metal that has been used as a currency for centuries. Its use as currency dates back to the ancient Egyptians. It is also used today in many forms of jewelry. However, its usage as a currency began much earlier than you might expect. The earliest example of gold coins was from ancient Egypt. The Egyptians used Nubian gold to make coins and leverage their power to build empires. In the 15th century, European colonizers sought gold deposits in the Americas and sent explorers to gather this precious metal. Soon after, gold became the basis of the European economy.
Gold coins were first used by the Lydians, a region of western Turkey, around 560 BC. The Romans followed suit and began issuing gold coins in 50 BC. The Latin word for gold was Aurum, and the Au symbol represents the element gold in the periodic table. William the Conqueror of Normandy became the first Norman King of England in 1066 AD, and thus began the use of gold as a currency in England.
People discovered gold from streams and rivers in 4000 BC. Ancient cultures of Eastern Europe used it as jewelry and as idols for worship for a couple of thousand years. Gold was a valuable commodity, and its value as currency increased exponentially as the Romans used it. In 1500 BC, the ancient Egyptian empire benefited greatly from gold-bearing Nubia. In 1500 BC, gold coins became the official medium of exchange for international trade livechatvalue.
