The story of how the first Russian gold coin appeared begins in the 9th century. Prince Oleg of Novgorod captures the city of Kyiv and the official history of our state begins. For the full existence of the new state, it was necessary not only to introduce various authorities, but also its own monetary system. Things were not very good with the last point, and at first, settlements within the country were carried out with the help of Byzantine money made of gold and silver. In the future, this will become a determining factor for the appearance of ancient Russian coins.
By the 10th century, the need for their own currency, for the realization of people's incomes, had increased so much that it was decided to start their own issuance of coins. The first iron money in Russia was only two types of gold and silver. Money made of silver was called srebreniki, but what was the name of the first Russian gold coin made of gold? Zlatnik - this is how it is customary to call the first Russian gold coin.
The history of the appearance of Zlatnik
For the first time in modern history, a copy appears in 1796, when a Kyiv soldier sold one copy to a collector. At that time, no one knew what the name of the coin was, which was passed down as a relic for years. At first it was mistaken for the Byzantine gold of those times. After 19 years, it was resold to another private collection, but then considered lost. The surviving plaster casts forced numismatists to reconsider their attitude to the history of money circulation in Russia. Previously, it was believed that their own money was not minted in those days, and the country managed with coins brought from Byzantium, Arab and European countries.
Zlatnik bears the image of Vladimir, the ruling prince. Some numismatists agree that the coinage was made rather not for the needs of the state, but to demonstrate the significance of Russia. On the other hand, the specimens found have traces of circulation. Therefore, we can say that despite the modest circulation, Zlatnik was used for rituals or rewarding. To date, 11 gold coins of Vladimir are known to exist, 10 have been divided between the Russian and Ukrainian museums, and one of the Russian gold coins is probably in a private collection.
Characteristics of Zlatnik Vladimir
Presumably, Zlatnik's coinage dates back to the 10th-11th centuries. Circulation cannot be determined.
Diameter: 19 - 24 mm.
Weight: 4 - 4.4 g.
On the front part (obverse) there is an image of Christ with the Gospel and an inscription around the circle "Jesus Christ".
In the center of the reverse is the bust of Prince Vladimir, in right hand he holds a cross, and the left on his chest. On the right side of the disk, there is a trident. Also on the reverse is an inscription in Old Russian, which reads - Vladimir on the throne.
The average weight - 4.2 grams, became the basis for the Russian weight unit - the spool.
The appearance of their own money contributed to the strengthening of relations with Byzantium, especially in terms of trade.
The original version of the name of the coin, which became the first Russian gold coin, differs from the modern one. Previously, they used the name - Kunami, Zlat, Zolotniks.
In 1988, in honor of the 1000th anniversary of the first gold coin, the USSR issued a jubilee gold coin with a face value of 100 rubles.
The second name is Gold, aurum, gold, Au. In alchemy, he was considered the father of all metals (Karol), and the mother (Queen). And could, according to the text, be obtained with the help of a philosopher's stone by acting on and. In modern science, it occupies one of the most important places among metals, but not as unshakable as it was believed in Alchemical times.
Expression precious, noble metal (also related to silver) means, in fact, the "moral" value of the material, which was understood in the same sense by the alchemists, who strove to ennoble metals. The non-oxidizing, sparkling metal was associated in almost all cultures with sun(Among the Aztecs, it was considered excrement - teocuitlatl of the solar God). The Latin expression "Aurum nostrum non est rum vulgi" ("Our gold is not the gold of the mob") gives rise to the conclusion that in the spiritual sphere of alchemy it meant, in fact, not metal, but esoteric knowledge, the highest degree of spiritual development.
Orthodox Christianity (Orthodoxy) also, of course, considers it a symbol of the heavenly Sveta and perfection, as evidenced by the golden background of medieval murals and iconography of the eastern church. In antiquity, in order not to underestimate the power of healing potions, they were supposed to be obtained with the help of golden tools, and golden jewelry was designed to neutralize the effects of harmful spells (and, above all, in cooperation with precious stones).However, the wearing of gold jewelry was not allowed everywhere and not at all; was considered in many cases the embodiment of the forces of the land, and since it had almost no practical value, its connection with the higher worlds and the world of the gods was exalted with all the more zeal. In many ancient cultures, gold retained the right to be the main material used for the manufacture of sacred objects and high-ranking regalia. . The “golden calf” from the Bible (Ex 32), as a symbol of the “idolatry” of the northern Israelites, was clearly not a real calf, but was an idol in the form of a calf and was destroyed by Moses. In ancient China, gold, the solar metal, was one of the incarnations of the beginning of yang, the opposite of yin () and complementing it .
What is gold
Chemical element of a secondary subgroup of group I of the 6th period of the periodic system of elements; at. n. 79, at. m. 196.9665. Soft yellow metal. In compounds, it exhibits an oxidation state of +3; compounds with oxidation states of +1 and +2 are known. Natural gold consists of the stable isotope 197Au. 13 radioactive isotopes with mass numbers 192-196, 198-206 and half-lives from a few seconds to 15.8 years have been obtained.
Gold mining and the manufacture of various objects from it began 6-7 thousand years BC. e., metallurgy 3. developed over 3 thousand years BC. e. Content 3. in the earth's crust 5 · 10 -8%. In nature, 3. is mostly in a free state and rarely forms (eg petzite, krenerite) with tellurium, selenium, antimony and bismuth; is also found in the water of rivers and oceans and in plants. In the waters of the World Ocean, its content is 4-10 mg / t, rising in some places (in the Caribbean Sea) to 15 - 18 mg / t. Total 3. in sea water it is estimated from 5-6 to 10-20 million tons. The crystal lattice 3. is face-centered cubic with a period a = 4.704 A; density (t-ra 20 ° C) 19.32 g / cm3; mp 1063°C; tbp 2677°C; temperature coefficient. linear expansion (t-ra 0-100 ° C) 14.2 10 -6 deg-1; specific heat capacity (t-ra 0-100 ° C) 0.0316 cal / g deg; specific thermal conductivity 0.744 cal/cm X X sec deg; specific electrical resistance (t-ra 20 ° C) 2.25 10 ohm cm; temperature coefficient. electr. resistance (temperature 0-100 ° C) 0.00396 deg-1.
Modulus of norms, elasticity 7900 kgf/mm 2 ; for annealed 3. tensile strength 10-14 kgf/mm2; relative elongation 30-50%; narrowing of the cross-sectional area of 90%. 3. It is distinguished by low hardness (HB = 13.6-19.0), high malleability (plasticity) and traction-honor. Good conductor of heat and electricity, resistant to the environment and chemical. impact.
Since ancient times, people have been interested in the question of what gold is, but only with the receipt (aqua regia), this issue has been partially resolved, but there are still disputes among mineralogists that it behaves in nature not as a native metal, but as a mineral.
It does not interact with non-metals (except halogens). Forms with halogens, e.g. AuCl 3 . It does not dissolve in acids and alkalis, it is highly soluble in a mixture of hydrochloric and nitric acid(the so-called "royal vodka"), forming gold chloride to - that H, as well as in solutions of cyanides (sodium, potassium) with the access of oxygen or other oxidizing agents and in chlorine water. 3. Connections are unstable and can be easily restored to metal. For 3. the ability to complex formation is characteristic. Of the inorganic compounds known: oxide Au20 - gray-violet crystals, soluble in hydrochloric acid; nitrous oxide AuOH - purple powder; oxide Au203 - brown-black powder, soluble in hydrochloric acid; hydrate of oxide Au (OH) 3 - black-brown, powder, soluble in hydrochloric acid.
In the prom. scale 3. obtained during the development of ores and placers. Its content in ores subjected to industrial processing, depending on the type of deposits, method of development and geographic and economic position, ranges from one to two to tens of grams per ton, and in alluvial deposits - 80-100 mg to several grams per cubic meter. 3. extracted from ores by resorting to cyanidation of gold-bearing rock (after crushing, grinding and primary enrichment).
Dissolved gold is precipitated with metallic zinc, and then, after melting, refined by electrolysis in a bath containing a hydrochloric acid solution of AuCl3 chloride. Pure 3. settles on the cathode from chemically pure sheet 3., impurities precipitate. In ore practice, the method of extracting 3 is increasingly being introduced. Based on its sorption by ion-exchange resins (ion-exchange process).
From placers, 3. is obtained in the simplest and cheapest way - by gravitational enrichment of gold-bearing sands in a water stream. 3. concentrates on catching devices, and waste rock, as lighter, is carried away by water. Gravitational enrichment is used in conjunction with amalgamation, a process based on the ability of grains 3. to be easily enveloped in mercury and trapped by it. 3. is widely used in economics, technology and medicine. Under the conditions of commodity production, it performs the function of the universal equivalent of money.
In technology, it is used in the form of alloys with other metals. Gold plating (see Gilding) is used in aviation and space technology, for the manufacture of reflectors in apparatus for drying infrared rays, electr. contacts and parts of conductors, as well as in radio equipment and in equipment for x-ray and radiotherapy. In electronics, zinc doped with germanium, indium, gallium, silicon, tin, and selenium is used to make contacts. Gold-platinum parts are used in the production of rayon for drawing threads. In medicine, 3. is used for the manufacture of some oil-emulsion and water-soluble preparations. 3. and it is widely used in jewelry and dental practice (see Dental).
Gold price
Here you can quickly find out the current price of gold for today, as well as find out the exchange rate statistics in the chart of the gold price for US dollars in the spot market
A gram of gold is worth the number in the graph must be divided by 31 (Ounce), for example 1.238.52: 31 = 0.03995226 is the price against the dollar, it must be multiplied by the exchange rate against the ruble or hryvnia, the result in hryvnia is ± 1.11866328, etc.
How is gold determined?
One of the simplest and cheapest ways to test for gold is a qualitative reaction for gold, and there is a pre-dissolved sample in aqua regia or chlorine water is treated with stannous chloride, resulting in a colloidal precipitate ranging in color from brown-red-black-violet blue.
But impurities of sulfides, especially arsenic, can hinder this qualitative reaction.
For these purposes, other methods are used in production, namely by recognition in the infrared spectrum. There are several samples (Br3), b utilrhodamine C, hydroquinone, etc.
Gold is
A simple substance, yellow in color. It is considered the main noble metal (silver, and five metals of the platinum subgroup). It is denoted by the sign Au (Gold - English, Aurum - Latin), has an atomic mass of 196.966569 (g / mol), density 19.3-19.32 g / cm³, melting point 1064.18 ° C. in the periodic table chemical elements listed at number 79. It has pronounced noble properties like a metal (does not rust, does not oxidize). CAS registration number: 7440-57-5.
History of gold
The noble metal has been known since ancient times, with gold mining in Egypt dating from around 5500 to 3110 BC. BC and several large mines were known. Some of the later ones were more than two kilometers long, this was due to the fact that the gold placer can be of any size and length.
And in many sources it is believed that Egypt became the first miner of gold and was called "not the corruptible flesh of the Gods."
At the moment, Egypt claims to be the first in gold mining.
In Russia, the main gold mining began in the middle of the 17th century in Transbaikalia during the extraction of silver ores, later gold deposits were found in the Urals A little later (the first Ural metal) was found there.
It got its name from the Latin name aurum, which means yellow, English name gold.
Name history
Gold is the first metal mastered by man. In South Africa, which is called the "cradle of mankind", and in a number of other places on the planet in the Neolithic era ( later period Stone Age) "yellow stones" were found along the river valleys, where "Homo sapiens" "reasonable man" lived. These bright, "sun-like stones" have taken an important place in magical rituals. They were worshiped, they believed that the amulets made from them saved from troubles. Gold was also a symbol of wealth. This is indicated by burials discovered in the latest era. So, for example, near Lake Varna, in Bulgaria, graves were excavated, in which there were gold jewelry made about seven thousand years ago.
When the cult of religions was just born, one of the first objects of religious worship was gold. For our ancestors, it embodied the God of the sun. It was the sun, they argued, that gave birth to gold, which once rained on the earth. Gold is like the sun and therefore it was called "radiant". The “solar” name of gold can be traced in different languages of the world. In Latin-speaking countries, the word “aurum” spread, it goes back to the name Aurora, that was the name of the Goddess of the dawn. The Indo-European name (root) "goal" means "brilliant", "desired") became the basis of the English and German words "gold". In the Slavic name "gold" "metal", as in other countries, there are some similarities with some meanings denoting sunlight and the sun. In the periodic system of elements of D. I. Mendeleev, gold occupies the 79th cell.
Chemical properties
Since gold is located to the right of all metals in the stress table, it has unique properties when normal conditions do not react with atmospheric oxygen, alkalis, as well as with most mineral and organic acids. Because of this, it is classified as a noble metal.
The most stable oxidation state for gold in its compounds is +3, being in this oxidation state it can form the most stable complexes with other singly charged anions such as (CNˉ, Fˉ, Clˉ) where x - F, Cl, CN.
Gold compounds with an oxidation state of +1 are considered stable, but under the influence of certain factors (light, environment, impurities, etc.) it leads to slow decomposition (transition to another state), therefore, in chemistry, the concept (relative stability) is used for this compound. Compounds with an oxidation state of + 2 are not typical for gold, but recent studies have shown that there are still complexes where it has an oxidation state of + 2.
For the oxidation state + 5 for gold, compounds are stable only with fluorine, other compounds either do not exist or they pass mainly +3 during the reaction. There are also compounds (VI) and (VII) but only in combination with fluorine, they are very unstable, especially AuF6 which immediately turns into AuF5 or AuF7.
There are also compounds with an oxidation state of -1, and they are called aurides, in these compounds they exhibit an oxidation state unusual for gold -1, for example sodium aurid Na3 Au or CsAu.
Indestructibility (of the King of Metals) debunked the creation of acid (Aqua regia) a mixture of two nitric acids HNO3 and HCl in a ratio of 1 to 3, resulting in a mixture of nitrosyl chloride and chlorine in the atomic state, so the mixture is prepared before the reaction starts:
Au + HNO 3 (conc.) + 4HCl (conc.) → H + NO + 2H2 O
Later, H2SeO4 selenic acid was obtained, which once again disproved the chemical inertness of gold:
2Au+6H 2 SeO4 → Au2 (SeO4 ) + 3H2 SeO3 + 3H2 O
Likewise, gold enters chemical reaction with halogens:
It reacts with fluorine when heated at 300°C and 400°C:
2Au+F 2→2AuF
With chlorine when heated:
2Au + 3Cl 2 → 2 AuCl3
With bromine
2Au + 3Br 2 → 3AuBr2
With iodine
Au+I 2 → AuI2
Also, gold can be dissolved in chlorine water, which is formed when chlorine is passed through water, the reaction takes a very long time and is not used on an industrial scale.
The dissolution of gold can be achieved in the reaction with hydrochloric acid and sodium hypochlorite, the advantage over the above written is a higher reaction rate and does not need to be removed from the nitric acid solution (reaction with aqua regia).
Interaction with cyanide salts leads to the complete dissolution of gold, it is used on an industrial scale ():
4Au + NaCN + 2H 2 O + O2 → + NaOH
Physical properties
Gold - in a pure state (99.99%) has a bright yellow color, small impurities of other metals make it reddish (), and adding platinum to Au over (8%) discolors it. It has a high thermal conductivity, as well as a low electrical resistance, which was sometimes used as a superconductor, but due to its high cost, it has not found much use.
Due to its density, which is 19.32 g / cm³, it is considered one of the heaviest metals in the free state, second only to osmium, iridium, rhenium, plutonium. These properties are used in its extraction, since gold is heavier than gangue and settles to the bottom, and waste is washed off with water, this method has been used at all times and is still used in some countries. The density of gold varies depending on the degree of heating and in the molten state is 17 g/cm³
The melting point is 1064.18 °C and has a boiling point of 2856 °C, gold is known for its volatility that begins long before it melts, this phenomenon is well observed when heated with open fires, other methods of melting are used to reduce losses, such as induction furnaces or based on them.
Clark of gold
The average content in the earth's crust is only 4.8 milligrams per ton of rocks. There is several times less gold than natural silver, not to mention other more common metals (the average content of that other element in the earth's crust is usually called clarke in honor of the American geochemist F. W. Clark). Knowing the clarke, you can determine the amount of a given element in a certain volume of the earth's crust. For example, 1 km³ of rock contains almost 14 tons of gold, and almost 100 billion tons in a kilometer layer of the earth's crust.
Gold has the highest density (its specific gravity is 19.7 g/cm3, a piece the size of Matchbox weighs half a kilogram!) The melting point of gold is 1046 C, the boiling point is 2447 ° C. Gold has the highest malleability and ductility compared to other metals. The unusual softness and malleability of gold during processing were discovered about 10 thousand years ago. The thinnest leaves from it are known as gold leaf, which is golden-colored metal sheets. They are mainly used for decorative finishes both non-metal and metal products.
The noble metal of gold with other metals (noble and base) not only lower its melting and boiling point, but also change its mechanical and physical properties. For example, silver greatly increases the hardness of gold; this property is widely used in both the jewelry industry and the chemical industry. Gold is the most labor-intensive metal to mine. It is ten times more expensive than silver and almost 250 times more expensive than copper.
To extract one kilogram of gold with its content in the ore in the amount of 4-5 g / t (this content is typical for many developed deposits), it is necessary to beat off, bring to the surface and process 200-250 tons of ore. Due to its softness, malleability, ability to stretch, gold lends itself to particularly fine processing by chasing, casting, and engraving. With its help, various decorative effects are created (from a smooth polished surface with smooth tints of light reflections to complex texture comparisons with a rich play of light and shade), as well as the most complex filigrees. Gold, often tinted with impurities in various colors, is used in combination with precious, semi-precious and ornamental stones, pearls, niello and enamel. .
All compounds with an oxidation state of +3 in gold are considered the most stable, less stable with + 1 and slowly decompose, all the rest either do not exist or are only in aqueous solutions, they are sold upon receipt. But the gold(V) compound is stable with fluorine.
To restore gold from its salts, many reducing agents are used, such as sodium sulfite, zinc or tin (II) chloride, the latter is used as a qualitative reaction to determine gold in solution (Cassius purple):
2Na + Zn → Na2 + 2Au↓
Alloys of gold
Gold, entering into alloys, both artificial and natural, always has a certain color, depending on the metals, the color changes from white, yellow, to blue.
red gold- represents an alloy of gold, silver and copper. It is mainly used in jewelry for the production of jewelry (earrings, chains, rings, necklaces). Depending on the alloy, they are divided into samples 375, 500, 583, 585, 750, 900 - 958, respectively, 375 sample is 37.5% of the gold content, etc.
blue gold- obtained by alloying gold with iron, it is used only in the jewelry industry for the manufacture of jewelry (rings, earrings, chains), it has not found application in industry.
green gold- obtained by alloying gold with silver, but due to insufficient greenishness, a small percentage of cadmium is added. It is used only in the jewelry industry for the manufacture of jewelry; it has not found application in the industry.
purple gold- obtained from an alloy of palladium, cobalt and aluminum, to give a light olive hue, they add. It is used only in the jewelry industry for the manufacture of jewelry; it has not found application in the industry
Hardness of gold
New metal alloys create new design possibilities. Various combinations of black and white gold with gems leads to an extraordinary effect of the beauty of the metal and precious stones. usually extracted from minerals, which are chemical compounds various elements. Although gold is included in very small proportions in some minerals that are very rare in nature, it usually exists as inclusions in others. Gold that has not entered into chemical compounds with other metals is commonly called native. It does not occur in its pure form. It usually contains mechanical impurities of other metals resulting from geological processes.
Hardness determines the ability of a natural alloy or mineral to resist any mechanical impact. In practice, for the simplest determination of hardness, 10 minerals are used as a standard: , calcareous spar, fluorspar, orthoclase, . Gold in its native state occupies a place on this scale between gypsum and calcite. Since it can be scratched with great difficulty with a fingernail, but easily scratched. To more accurately determine the hardness of a mineral or natural gold alloy, a special hardness tester is used.
Being in nature
Gold in the free state or in an alloy with other metals is not widely distributed in the earth's crust, but point sources of mining are very numerous. These are mainly postmagmatic or hydrothermal zones, and gold mining is also carried out in places where primary deposits are destroyed and along its channel.
The main sources of extraction of precious metal from its ores, which include gold, platinum, silver, etc. , lies in the fact that under the influence of water, air and other factors, natural alloys and compounds are sold and immigrate from the main zone (primary deposit, hydrothermal and postmagmatic) to places where it forms placers (primary gold deposits) or sedimentary rock, which over time can also go into a solid state (example).
Native gold: natural alloys of gold with iridium, platinum gold, rhodium-gold, silver-gold (), palladium-gold (porpesite), copper-gold (copper gold).
Organic and inorganic compounds of gold and man
Gold in the form of salts and some organic compounds behaves like a toxic substance that accumulates in the vital important organs and causes some diseases associated with the blood and the immune system.
Gold-based organic medicines are used to treat autoimmune diseases and some other types also associated with the immune system.
Production of cosmetic preparations, which includes gold.
Getting gold
To obtain gold, all its physical and chemical properties are used.
Being in nature in a native state or in a natural alloy with other noble metals.
Being one of the densest materials, gold is mined by grinding.
The main method of gold mining used in the recent past is amalgamation.
Chemical methods of oxidation and reduction of gold from its salts.
Alternative ways to get gold.
The use of modern technologies using nuclear reactions to obtain gold from other metals.
The use of gold
The use of gold as a method of making a profit.
In industry for the manufacture of contacts for various purposes and coating materials to prevent unwanted corrosion and oxidation.
In dentistry, crowns and prostheses are made from its alloys.
In the jewelry industry as a metal or alloyed with other metals to make jewelry, rings and medals. As well as applying a layer of gold to others like silver and ignoble to give jewelry a jewelry look.
For the manufacture of medicines for the treatment of certain types of diseases associated with the immune system, as well as tuberculosis.
Gold leaf
The name came from "susalo" face; probably, any facing material began to be called leaf (according to another version, the word “leaf” meant “rustling” due to the similarity with the Czech word “suseti” “to rustle”. For a long time, the source of its production has been gold, which is subjected to repeated forging with a special tool in order to achieve thickness of 0.001 mm In this state, it is translucent and has a bluish-green color.
Its main sources of application in the recent past are the processing of spacecraft and glazing on multi-storey buildings to protect against sunlight and overheating, and in winter from heat loss, also a good protector from infrared radiation.
Recycled gold
Due to the greater use of gold-containing materials in various industries, for example, in the ceramic industry, radio and chemical production, etc., various types of waste are generated. ash from porcelain production (25-35% Au), gold electrolysis sludge (15-25% Au), waste from grinding and polishing departments of jewelry production (5-10% Au). Also, a large content of the noble metal is found in the waste from thermal power plants that run on coal, which have recently begun to be massively processed to produce metal. subject to primary processing and send the concentrate to refineries, where platinum, silver, and gold included in it are obtained from it.
Gold in medicine
It is known that in ancient Egypt it was used as a drug against old age, which is successfully used in modern cosmetology by adding it as a (colloidal or organic) material.
Also in XVI in. Paracelsus tried to use gold preparations to treat certain diseases, in particular syphilis. It was also found that chlorine gold at a concentration of 1:30,000 begins to inhibit alcoholic fermentation, with an increase in concentration to 1:3900 - already significantly angled does not melt it, and with concentration 1:200 - completely stops.
Gold medicine gold and sodium thiosulfate AuNaS 2 O 3 has been successfully used in the fight against skin disease - erythematous lupus. In modern times, it is used not only as a material with unique medicinal properties but also with the fight in the treatment of lupus, tuberculosis, leprosy and some other diseases.
But as with other elements, excessive use or use (wearing or working with it) can lead to bad consequences with disruption of the body and especially rashes or allergies on the skin.
Obtaining from ores and concentrates
One of the most important sources of obtaining a noble metal is considered to be its extraction from, but the concentration and composition of minerals that interfere with its isolation make this difficult; for this, several options have been developed for obtaining depending on the composition of the rock. If the rock consists of quartz, it is subjected to grinding and cyanidation.
If the composition of the mineral includes, and especially which does not allow the cyanidation reaction to proceed, flotation enrichment of gold-bearing ores is used from the beginning. In the flotation of gold and gold-containing sulfides, sulfhydryl collectors are used: xanthates (butyl, amyl, ethyl) and aeroflots. The collector is fixed on the surface of gold only after a preliminary short contact with water or air. After flotation, depending on the composition, they are processed, if the material does not react well, it is repeated flotation or other components are used.
Because soluble antimony compounds are able to be sorbed from cyanide solutions by certain substances, for example, iron hydroxides. With a sufficient concentration of these substances in the processed ore negative influence antimony on the process of cyanidation affects much less known cases when the content of antimony in the rock exceeded 2-3% Sb, but gold in cyanide solutions passed in a positive direction. Sometimes antimony in the rock is so high that it is commensurate with the price of gold and higher, then it is extracted separately, and the precious metal is already obtained by cyanidation of the cinder.
Can be recycled different ways depending on its material composition. Sometimes the scheme of obtaining looks in stages. Antimony is precipitated from solution by electrolysis with insoluble anodes. The leaching residue is washed and cyaniated. If it contains
Gold bromide 2. Properties An inorganic substance, in its pure state it has a red color, the constant formula is AuBr2. State -...
Money from the yellow precious metal appeared in Russia more than a thousand years ago. The first coins own production”, minted from gold, appeared with us in the 10-11th century, during the time of Prince Vladimir, known to us as “Red Sun”. On all the coins of this period, the influence of Byzantine art is noticeable. On the front side the Grand Duke was usually depicted with a trident (this was the “crown” symbol Kiev princes), on the reverse side there was an image of Christ the Savior with the Gospel in his hand.
Zlotnik of Prince Vladimir.
In those days, there was a heyday of Kievan Rus, and it is clear that in order to raise prestige among the people and neighboring states, gold coins were minted. But then came a difficult period - the Tatar invasion, civil strife, unrest. All this naturally led to the fact that the treasury of even the richest princes was empty. Accordingly, until the end of the 15th century, a gold coin was not minted in Russia.
The production of their own coins by re-coining (mainly from Hungarian) began under the Moscow Grand Dukes Mikhail Fedorovich, Ivan III Vasilyevich. Interestingly, most often these coins were not in use, but were issued as a reward for military merit.
Mikhail Fedorovich. Complained gold in three quarters of Ugric.
The tradition of minting gold kopecks and gold coins continued under the tsars. On the coins of Ivan IV Vasilyevich the Terrible, the double-headed eagle was placed on both sides of the coin. The son of Ivan IV, Fyodor Ivanovich, on one side of the coins placed an inscription with his title, on the other - a double-headed eagle or horseman.
Fedor Alekseevich (1676-1682). Award gold in two Ugric. Novodel.
Similar types of coins were minted by False Dmitry, Vasily Shuisky, Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov. Alexei Mikhailovich minted a double gold piece with his belt image.
Pre-reform coins of Peter I, Ivan and Sophia were both with images of co-rulers, and simply with double-headed eagles on both sides.
Ivan, Peter, Sophia. Award gold in one Ugric for the Crimean campaign of 1687
Under Peter I, everything changed. Gold coins came into use as they began to be minted on an industrial scale. So, they were minted according to a strict pattern, and their denomination under Peter I was unusual. Since 1701 the first Russian emperor ordered to mint 1 ducat and 2 ducats.
The fact is that initially a large number of these coins were minted from Western gold ducats. The weight of 1 ducat fluctuated, but, as a rule, was 6-7 grams. Their difference from modern money was that its denomination was not indicated on the coin. But the Russian people found a more familiar name for such "ducats" and began to call one ducat a chervonets, and two ducats a double chervonets.
Dukat of Peter I.
Since 1718, Peter I issued 2 gold rubles. His wife Catherine I during her reign also issued only a two-ruble note made of gold. By the way, the circulation was limited and reached about 9 thousand copies. Therefore, today for a two-ruble coin of Catherine I Alekseevna, you can get from 90 to 900 thousand rubles.
Two rubles in gold. Ekaterina Alekseevna.
During the reign of Peter II, gold coins were minted without a denomination, but out of habit they were called chervonets. The same thing happened with Anna Ioannovna. For a coin with a portrait of this autocrat, today you can get from 35 thousand to 2 million rubles (depending on the year and the image on the coin).
Chervonets Anna Ioannovna. 1730
In the short reign of the infant John IV, gold coins were not minted: they simply, probably, did not have time in a few months.
Further, when Elizaveta Petrovna came to power, the production of gold money finally revived. In addition to the standard chervonets with a portrait of the Empress, a double chervonets was issued. There were also half a ruble, 1 ruble, 2 rubles. Then, in 1755, the imperial (10 rubles) and semi-imperial (5 rubles) were added to these coins. On the new coins, instead of the double-headed eagle on the reverse, there is a cross of four patterned shields connected by a fifth. On the first four - coats of arms and symbols of cities Russian Empire, and in the central shield - a double-headed eagle with a scepter and orb. The imperials were most often used for foreign trade operations.
Imperial of Elizabeth Petrovna. 1756
Among this abundance, Peter III left only the usual gold coins, as well as imperial and semi-imperial. After the story of the overthrow of her husband, Catherine II ordered that all coins with the portrait of Peter III be re-minted into coins of the same denomination, but with her name and portrait. Therefore, coins from the time of Peter III are very rare and highly valued. There is evidence that at auctions they go for amounts starting from several tens of thousands of dollars.
Paul I, son of Catherine II, initiated a new tradition. Money was now minted without a portrait of the emperor. He left an imperial, a semi-imperial and a gold ducat. They looked unusual.
Pavel's chervonets. 1797
Under Alexander I, the tradition continued. Only the imperial (10 rubles) and the semi-imperial (5 rubles) remained among the “gold”. After the victory over Napoleon in 1813, Poland became part of Russia. In this regard, since 1816, Alexander I began minting coins (for Poland) at the Warsaw Mint. From gold were 50 and 25 zł.
50 zlotys with a portrait of Alexander I. 1818
Nicholas I left the imperials, but became famous for the fact that he began to mint coins ... from platinum! These were the first platinum coins in the world issued for everyday circulation. They were issued in denominations of 3, 6 and 12 rubles. Then, by the way, platinum was not considered expensive and cost 2.5 times cheaper than gold. It had just been discovered in 1819, and its extraction was very cheap. In this regard, the government, fearing massive fakes, withdrew platinum coins from circulation. AND more money platinum has never been minted in Russia. And all the scrap coins - 32 tons - were sold to England. And this country has long been a monopoly on this metal. Today, platinum coins of Nicholas I can be sold at auctions for 3-5 million rubles.
Platinum 6 rubles of Nicholas I. 1831
Let's get back to gold. The successor of Nicholas I, Alexander II, the most democratic tsar and the liberator of the peasantry, minted only semi-imperials and also introduced 3 rubles in gold. There were reforms in the country, special money for minting gold was not provided. Apparently, that's why the denominations have decreased.
3 rubles in gold. Alexander II. 1877
Alexander III left coins of the same denomination, but returned the imperial - 10 rubles. And he ordered to mint his portrait on it. So the tradition of portrait chervonets resumed. The technical characteristics of the gold coin are changing - they become thicker, but of a smaller diameter. Gold coins of Alexander III are sold at auctions for amounts of 7-20 thousand dollars.
Imperial of Alexander III. 1894
Further, we have only the golden times of the infamous last Tsar Nicholas II. Coins of 5 and 10 rubles are still carried to the buyers of the old woman, who knows where they have been preserved until now. And the search engines dream of seeing the golden sheen of this particular royal profile in the hole just dug.
Golden chervonets of Nicholas II.
The weight of a gold coin with a face value of 10 rubles before Nicholas 2 was 12.9 grams. After the Nikolaev monetary reform, the weight of a gold coin with a face value of 10 rubles was reduced by one and a half times and amounted to 8.6 grams. Therefore, gold coins became more accessible and their circulation increased.
In the new lightweight "Nikolaev" weight, gold 15 rubles and 7 rubles 50 kopecks were minted. At the same time, their cost is low, as well as the cost of "Nikolaev" chervonets - about 20 thousand rubles. But they are found more often than all the other coins put together, and the chance to find them on a detect is also higher.
There are also "gift" coins from the time of Nicholas II. These coins were minted for the personal gift fund of Nicholas 2. The dates of their minting suggest that 25 rubles in 1896 were minted specifically for the coronation, and 25 rubles in 1908 - for the 40th anniversary of Nicholas 2. The price of such gold coins reaches 120-150 thousand dollars.
Following the donative (gift) coins, one can distinguish a completely unusual, unparalleled, gold coin with a face value of 37 rubles 50 kopecks - 100 francs of 1902. According to some assumptions, in this way, Nicholas 2 wanted to commemorate the Franco-Russian union, however, another part of numismatists is more inclined to believe that 37 rubles 50 kopecks - 100 francs were intended for use in the casino system. At the price of such a "gold" today at auctions can be found for 40-120 thousand dollars.
The history of the last gold royal chervonets deserves a separate story.
You will learn about it in the next article.
Short story gold, gold as a world currency, foreign exchange reserves of countries, the use of the yellow metal, myths and stories about the precious metal.
A Brief History of Gold
It is believed that it was gold that transferred all of humanity to new level development - in the era of metals. Gold is a very rare and expensive metal, so it is not surprising that it began to be used as a means of payment. Archaeologists have found ancient gold items (dated to 4600 BC) in Bulgaria in the Varna necropolis. This find is considered the oldest of all. Therefore, it can be firmly stated that mankind has been familiar with gold for many thousands of years.
This metal played an important role in the life of ancient peoples. In Egypt, he was compared to the sun and unlimited power. All the wealth of the country was stored in the form of gold. New currencies appeared and disappeared, but this expensive metal remained the same: universal and stable. Having a lot of gold was not only important and prestigious, but also quite dangerous. Egyptian gold has come a long way: first it was in the hands of the Assyrians, then it was in the hands of the Persians, the Greeks, and, in the end, it was taken over by the Romans.
The history of gold begins in the prehistoric era. Even then, people understood all its value and importance.
Over time, many places were discovered where gold could be mined: in 1471 in Ghana, Mexico, Chile and Peru, in Brazil; in 1745 - in the Urals, in 1823 - in Canada and the USA; in 1851 gold began to be mined in Australia, later in 1884 in South Africa. Thus, all countries gradually began to recognize gold as a common monetary equivalent. Many gold hunters appeared. In the 16th century, people in total mined about 763 tons of this precious metal, in the 17th - about 914 tons, in the 18th - 18,900 tons, and in the 19th - already more than 11,616 tons. 
Akinfiy Demidov, Russian gold miner
As for Russia, we began to mine gold in 1726 (Demidovs). In addition, excavations were carried out at mines in Altai. Gold has been mined in Karelia since 1745. In the same 1745, the peasant Markov began to mine gold in Berezovsky. In 1814, gold was also found in the Urals. After that, gold diggers appeared in Siberia, in Transbaikalia, near the Yenisei Ridge and in Kazakhstan. Then, at the end of the 19th century, gold deposits were found in the Far East. It was in Russia that industrial gold mining began with the help of placers.
At all times, no other metal has spawned so many crimes and wars. On the other hand, gold moved the progress of mankind and brought it into a new era. The current monetary system was built on the basis of this metal. Today, gold is a universal equivalent, a universal means of accumulation and payment.
Gold as a means of payment
Gold has become a universal means of payment only because of its properties. It is inert, therefore almost does not react to external factors. It does not dissolve, does not oxidize and does not change its state in the natural environment. Only in a special solution of "royal vodka" can this noble metal be completely dissolved. All these physical and chemical properties allow gold to exist quietly in nature in its natural pure form, which cannot be said about other metals.
Gold is characterized by a slight luster, it does not lose its appearance, does not melt. It is an excellent metal for forging. Because of this, it is considered the best for making jewelry. This metal can be mined on almost every continent. Most often, this work is very laborious and complex. Gold deposits are limited. For example, Russia is considered one of the countries that has large deposits of this metal (about 16 thousand tons). The cost of gold mining varies greatly depending on the country and deposit. It varies from 110 to 350 dollars per ounce. An ounce is a measure of precious metals. at about 31.10 grams.
Emergence of the gold standard
The gold standard is a financial system in which the value of money is expressed in some amount of gold. This system came to replace the silver standard. In addition, along with gold, there is also a bimetallic standard that shows the ratio of gold to silver. The main rule of the gold standard was the right to quickly and affordably exchange paper money for gold. Due to this, financial market inflation would disappear. 
The owner of this bill had gold equivalent to one hundred dollars.
The first mention of this system was dated 1821 in England. That is why the pound remained the world currency until 1914. During the Bretton Woods conference, the gold standard was legalized. In 1971, the US abandoned the gold standard system, and this system was not used after the Jamaica Conference.
Due to the current crises, economic experts have often raised the issue of bringing the gold standard back into action. But the amount of precious metal is too small to fully ensure the circulation of money. The main advantages of choosing gold as the universal currency were:
- durability, immutability of its properties over time;
- high price;
- good divisibility;
- the ability to identify from all noble metals.
Reasons why people began to refuse to use gold as a currency:
- the impossibility of quick and easy emission;
- heavy transportation of large amounts;
- loss of gold.
There were three types of gold standard:
- Gold coin standard. The classic gold standard that was observed in countries that used coins made of gold, as well as paper money. Any kind of money could be exchanged for an equivalent in the form of gold in any form.
- Gold bullion standard. Due to the discrepancy between the amount of gold and the total mass of paper money, the gold coin standard disappeared. Therefore, it was found that money can only be exchanged for bullion (minimum weight 12.5 kg). Therefore, many poor people could not exchange their reserves for gold.
- gold standard. This standard is also called the gold exchange standard. It takes into account all the nuances of the gold bullion standard in the current international situation. This standard was the basis of the Bretton Woods monetary system.
Gold reserves of the countries of the world
A gold reserve is a reserve of gold, which is in the power of the Central Bank of a certain country and is a certain part of the gold and foreign exchange reserve. To date, the amount of gold mined is 174,100 tons. According to the World Gold Council, the amount of gold reserves by country is 30,000 tons. In the table below, you can compare the gold reserves of various countries of the world (relevance as of June 2014):
| # | the country | gold reserves, tons |
| 1 | USA | 8 133,5 |
| 2 | Germany | 3 384,2 |
| 3 | International Monetary Fund (IMF) | 2 814 |
| 4 | Italy | 2 451,8 |
| 5 | France | 2 435,4 |
| 6 | Russia | 1 112,5 |
| 7 | China | 1 054,1 |
| 8 | Switzerland | 1 040 |
| 9 | Japan | 765,2 |
| 10 | Netherlands | 612,5 |
| 11 | India | 557,7 |
| 12 | Turkey | 512,9 |
| 13 | European Central Bank (ECB) | 501,4 |
| 14 | Taiwan | 423,6 |
| 15 | Portugal | 382,5 |
| 16 | Venezuela | 367,6 |
| 17 | Saudi Arabia | 322,9 |
| 18 | Great Britain | 310,3 |
| 19 | Lebanon | 286,8 |
| 20 | Spain | 281,6 |
| 21 | Austria | 280 |
| 22 | Belgium | 227,4 |
| 23 | Philippines | 194,3 |
| 24 | Algeria | 173,6 |
| 25 | Kazakhstan | 155,8 |
| 26 | Thailand | 152,4 |
| 27 | Singapore | 127,4 |
| 28 | Sweden | 125,7 |
| 29 | South Africa | 125,1 |
| 30 | Mexico | 123,3 |
The USA takes the first place. It was gold bars in this country that became a replacement for the dollar, after its role as a reserve currency decreased. Thus, sales of gold in the US may help reduce the pressure of buyers of precious metals.
In second place is Germany. In the period 2003-2008. it was this country that occupied a leading position in the sale of gold. But, these sales did not reduce the country's own gold and foreign exchange reserves. Therefore, Germany will continue to sell this metal without harm to the economy.
Italy is in fourth place. Since this country now has large debts, it can be assumed that in the near future it will begin to actively sell its gold reserves.
On the sixth place - Russia. Over the past six years, Russia has doubled its gold reserves, from 520 tons in 2009 to 1,100 tons by mid-2014. Active replenishment of reserves began immediately after the 2008 crisis. Apparently, the Russian government does not exclude repeated crises in subsequent years and is stocking up with a liquid asset that has value under any circumstances.
Next comes China. The population of this country is large, and the economy is developing rapidly. Between 2003 and 2009 China bought about 450 tons of gold and about 200 tons in 2010. The country is actively converting its reserves into gold.
Switzerland is actively opposing the appreciation of the Swiss franc. Therefore, the country sells gold, there is no point in increasing reserves.
Gold reserves in Russia
Gold reserves in Russia Today, Russia diversifies its reserves most of all into gold. As of July 2014, the reserve is 1094.73 tons, the annual increase is about 50-80 tons. The growth of Russia's gold reserves causes little concern in the West. It should be noted that the role of gold in the international market is rapidly increasing. So, many banks are buying up gold to maintain their own reserves in an unstable economic situation. Central banks are moving away from holding their assets in dollars or euros and are increasingly resorting to buying the precious metal.
Most of Russia's gold reserves were purchased on the domestic market. Back in 1995, 60% of the country's reserves were stored in gold. The World Gold Council has said that if Russia wants to catch up with the previous figures, then it needs to buy another 5,000 tons of gold, according to current prices. Based on the dynamics of growth, there is a suspicion that perhaps the Russian central bank has such tasks.
The country's gold reserves at the end of 2011 amounted to 882.96 tons. At the end of the next 2012, the volume of reserves increased by 74.8 tons and amounted to 957.76 tons. In 2013, the Central Bank purchased 77.45 tons of gold.
The use of gold in various industries
For many centuries people have used gold not only as a means of payment, but also for making jewelry, dentures and much more. In our time, the entire mass of the resulting gold is divided in this way: 10% - in industry, 90% - in the manufacture of jewelry and casting ingots.
There are three branches of gold consumption in our time: investment, jewelry and industry.
- Industry. In this industry, gold plays an important role due to its properties. This metal is malleable and malleable, so it can be used to make wire or foil. In addition, gold has a high resistance to external factors, high thermal and electrical conductivity. Therefore, it is used in electronics, the chemical field and for the manufacture of measuring instruments. Due to the fact that gold reflects infrared rays well, it is often used in the glass industry. Also, this metal can serve as a target in nuclear tests to coat mirrors that operate in the far infrared range.
- The medicine. Because of its malleability, gold was often used to make dentures in ancient times. In ancient Egypt, many alloys with the addition of this metal were used in the field of prosthetics. As a medicine, gold began to be used in the 16th century. The alchemist Paracelsus tried to add it to preparations to get rid of terrible ailments, such as syphilis or tuberculosis. More famous in our time was sodium and gold thiosulfate, which is used to treat lupus erythematosus. In medicine, organic gold alloys were often used, for example, krizolgan (against tuberculosis) and triphal (against lupus). Gold is also often used in plastic surgery. Micro-thin gold threads are inserted under the skin of patients in order for collagen tissue to form around them.
- Jewelry. The manufacture of gold jewelry has been known since ancient times. In ancient Egypt, the pharaohs were buried along with the gold jewelry that belonged to them during their lifetime. Gold items were worn as amulets to protect against witchcraft and disease. Recently, the flow of gold for the manufacture of jewelry has been slightly reduced - due to the instability of the market, this metal is preferred to be used in the field of investment.
Stories, myths, legends about gold
In ancient times, gold has always attracted special attention of people, it was shrouded in legends and myths. Gold was associated with the gods, strength and power. The legends describe many items made of gold. Some Egyptian peoples compared gold to the sun. According to the legends, gold came to earth through golden raindrops that fell from the sun. The golden calf, which the goddess Nut gave birth to, had a special symbolism among the Egyptians. After birth, this calf reincarnated as the god Ra. And in the evening the sky goddess ate it and in the morning, again, gave birth to a golden calf.
The Israeli people also have an interesting legend associated with gold. When they left Egypt, they took away a lot of gold, and then used it to cast a huge statue of a calf. After that, any golden calf became a symbol of wealth.
Another well-known character in the myths associated with gold was Hercules (son of a simple woman and Zeus). During one of his exploits, he had to get apples from a golden tree. This apple tree grew in the garden of Atlanta, on the edge of the earth. After he completed this task and took out the golden apples, the hero received the long-awaited freedom. One of the most famous stories about gold is the legend of King Midas. One day he asked the god Dionysus to give him the power to turn everything he touched into gold. But, he made a mistake. The king could not eat or drink, because everything that fell into his mouth immediately turned into gold. He ran to Dionysus and asked to get rid of such a gift. God sent Midas to bathe in the river Pactola to wash away his guilt. After that, the river began to be considered rich in gold.
The Greek myth of the Golden Fleece is another reminder of this precious metal. It began to symbolize the prosperity of the inhabitants of Colchis. The Golden Fleece, according to legend, was guarded by a huge and evil dragon. But, a hero named Jason and his team were able to get Fleece and take them to Greece.
The ancient Inca civilizations depicted the sun god Inti in the form of a golden disk. According to legend, the legendary hero Manco Capac threw a staff made of gold at his feet, and the city of Cuzco was built on this site. Therefore, the first ruler of the Incas called himself and his wife the children of the sun god. In Norse stories, the thunder god Thor had a golden hammer. With it, he protected people from the attacks of monsters and giants. It is also said that his wife wore chic golden hair that the dwarves forged for her. In Ireland, they believe that there are such characters as leprechauns. They are small half-humans, half-gnomes, dressed in green clothes. It is said that every leprechaun has a pot of gold and if any man catches it, the dwarf will show the location of the treasure.
The ancient Slavs believed in the Golden Baba - the goddess of peace and tranquility. Her gilded statues are still worshiped by the inhabitants of Siberia (the Mansi and Khanty tribes). They believe that this goddess lived there many years ago, and then turned into gold. Many gold diggers are located on the territory Western Siberia and now. Someone is looking for the Golden Woman, and someone is just looking for gold.
Today, it continues to occupy an important place in the economy and is a symbol of wealth and power. The story of gold continues and may turn out to be more exciting than it has been so far.
