To aid further research by scholars, journalists and all those interested in gold’s monetary role, the World Gold Council commissioned a compilation of extracts from key historical documents from 1660 to 1999.

Citations are provided for every source so as to facilitate the reader's further research. These documents are therefore a valuable resource for researchers who seek even more in-depth knowledge of the history of gold.

Approximately 150 documents are divided into three sections that correspond roughly with the changing position of gold in the international economic system.

The Rise of the Gold Standard, 1660 - 1819

The Heyday of the Gold Standard, 1820 - 1930

After the Gold Standard, 1931 - 1999