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1091 - 50 B.C.
1091 B.C.
At this time, small squares of gold became legal currency in China. Because it was convenient to collect and use, gold was cast into a square shape and generally used for block trade during the Han Dynasty.
560 B.C
In Lydia, which was a kingdom in Asia Minor, the first coins made from pure gold were minted at this time. Asia Minor made up what would be Turkey today and was peopled by a sophistocated civilisation. It is known as the birth place of coinage and was responsible for very early and complex systems of trading.
344 B.C.
Alexander the Great launches a military campaign against the Persian Empire and seizes huge quantities of gold in the process.
Popularly known as Alexander the Great, Alexander III of Macedon was a Ancient Greek and son of Phillip. Philip, after lengthy campaigns, had managed to secure most of the city states of mainland Greece. Having inherited and unstable Greek Empire from his Father, Alexander first had to secure this but then turned his attentions to conquering the Persian Empire.
300 B.C.
The practice of Alchemy was started by the Greeks and Jews of ancient Alexandria during this period. Alchemy is the practice of turning base metals into gold.
218 - 202 B.C.
At this time, the Romans gained control of the gold mining regions of Spain and start to collect gold through stream gravels and hardrock mining. This gain of territory was made druing the second Punic War with Carthage.
58 B.C.
Julius Caesar gives 200 coins to each of his soldiers from the spoils collected during his campaign in Gaul.
Julius Caesar was a politician and the General of the former Roman republic. He was responsible for greatly extending the Roman empire prior to seizing power and making himself dictator of Rome, thus paving the way for the imperial system.
50 B.C.
Romans started to use gold coins called the Aureus.
The Aureus was a coin made from gold and used in ancient Rome. Prior to the time of Julius Caesar it was minted infrequently and usually only when large payment were necessary for captured booty. During the reign of Caesar it was minted more frequently and its weight was standardised.