Gold has been identified and highly valued since prehistoric epoch. It may have been the first metal used by humans and was esteemed for decoration and rituals.It is a highly favorite precious metal, having been used as money, as a store of value, in jewelry, in sculpture, and for ornamentation since the beginning of recorded history.

Because of the softness of pure (24k) gold, it is usually alloyed with base metals for use in jewelry, varying its hardness and ductility, melting point, color and other properties. In medieval times, gold was often seen as beneficial for the health, in the belief that something exceptional and beautiful could not be anything but healthy.