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krectus t1_j2zscy5 wrote

Reply to comment by Zealousideal-Web5346 in TIL that all the gold that has ever been mined in all of human history could fill about three Olympic-sized swimming pools. by westondeboer

It’s for this reason it was used for coins and other items before that so I’m not sure “real use” is accurate here.

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Forgot-My-Name_again t1_j30cmco wrote

Right, and gold leafing on books actually protects the pages, makes handling easier, and prevents paper cuts. I'd call that a real use. Gold fillings, a material that can actually be cold impact welded in an environment as bad as a human mouth and wing break down after installation. Gold mending of materials. The low melting point makes it easy to work, ideal for repairs.

All of those are genuine historic uses of gold that aren't just GOLD PRETTY. I mean, the attractive end result sure doesn't hurt, but the properties of the gold itself are the reason to choose it.

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Zealousideal-Web5346 t1_j2zwxpz wrote

NERD ALERT!

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Zealousideal-Web5346 t1_j3014lc wrote

Oh boy. Shiny doesn't mean useful. Love the hate. Pour it on

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WarrenPuff_It t1_j30ap1v wrote

One of the main qualities of money is it needs to be durable, you daft mustard packet. Having your coins not rust makes them more durable than other metals.

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