Revealing the sweeping saga of the world's oldest--and most treasured--currency, this is the first definitive history of gold.

The Secret History of Gold tells the sparkling, eye-opening, and definitive story of the metal that has shaped our world--and may yet determine its fate.

From its origins in the formation of the solar system to its pivotal role in ancient myth, conquest, and modern finance, Dominic Frisby reveals how gold has shaped civilizsations, built global economies, and defined systems of power over millennia.

Discover how gold has sparked wars, built empires, and empowered leaders from Alexander the Great to Adolf Hitler. As nations like China and Russia mine and hoard gold at record rates, Frisby examines its enduring significance in the digital age and its potential to influence the future of global peace and power.

Not only is this the first comprehensive history of gold, at its heart, the book argues that gold keeps society honest by curbing government overspending as well as economic inflation, since we cannot create more of it.