Gold’s price history reflects a century of monetary policy, war, crisis, and transformation.
Key Milestones
| Year | Event | Approximate Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1900–1933 | Gold Standard era | $20.67/oz (fixed) |
| 1934 | Roosevelt revalues gold | $35.00/oz (fixed) |
| 1944 | Bretton Woods Agreement | $35.00/oz (fixed) |
| 1971 | Nixon ends gold convertibility | $35.00 → free float |
| 1975 | Americans can own gold again | ~$175/oz |
| 1980 | Inflation crisis peak | $850/oz |
| 1999 | Multi-decade low | $253/oz |
| 2001 | New bull market begins | $271/oz |
| 2008 | Financial crisis flight to safety | $870/oz |
| 2011 | Post-crisis high | $1,920/oz |
| 2020 | COVID-19 pandemic | $2,067/oz |
| 2024–2025 | Record highs | $2,500+/oz |
The Long View
Over the past century, gold has risen from $20.67 to over $2,500 per ounce. Those who held gold through every crisis, every policy change, and every market cycle have preserved and grown their wealth across generations.