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Because gold is known to be rare and desireable, along with being hard to fake and easily recognizable. Gold also has a high value to weight ratio and doesn't rust or spoil regardless of how its stored.

However, today most currency is not backed up by gold anymore. The US went off of a true gold standard (where citizens could redeem notes for gold) in 1933 and the last remaining link was severed in the 1970s. However, while currency isn't backed up by gold, gold is still money and is universally recognizable and valued regardless of which country you're in, while most currency is only accepted in the country that it came from, for example, it will be hard to spend South African Rands (which are not gold or backed up by gold) in the US, on the other hand a South African Kuggrand which is made out of gold is widely accepted in the US and any other country.

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11y ago

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