Brian
I think the 'deity' did get amention on this thread!
And, no matter what you think about the usefulness/relevance of gold........the value of gold as an investment vehicle is shown in the chart over the short, medium and long terms.......one just needs to get in and out at the right times.
Coins, conductors, jewellery, barter, false gods, poverty, wealth, hard assets, inflation, deflation, or hyperinflation.......whatever!