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In nineteenth-century Prussia, a glorious feat of alchemy saved the public exchequer, when the kingdom's royal family managed to make iron jewellery more desirable than gold jewellery. To fund the war effort against France, Princess Marianne appealed in 1813 to all wealthy and aristocratic women there to swap their gold ornaments for base metal, to fund the war effort. In return they were given iron replicas of the gold items of jewellery they had donated, stamped with the words 'Gold gab ich fur Eisen', 'I gave gold for iron'. At social events thereafter, wearing and displaying the iron replica jewellery and ornaments became a far better indication of status than wearing gold itself. Gold jewellery merely proved that your family was rich, while iron jewellery proved that your family was not only rich but also generous and patriotic. As one contemporary observed, 'Iron jewellery became the fashion of all patriot women, thus showing their contribution in support of the wars of liberation.'

Cigarettes have emerged as currency units in concentration camps and jails the world over; for those at liberty there is a wider choice of materials to choose from. Shells, salt and precious metals such as iron have all been used. Gold's magical chemical properties, which prevent it corroding and allow it to retain its shine, has made it an all-time favourite.