The Tom Woods Show

Ep. 2758 The Secret History of Gold

18 snips
May 7, 2026
Dominic Frisby, author and commentator on economics and finance, explores gold's deep role in civilization and money. He traces gold's Paleolithic roots, its power to drive exploration and conflict. The conversation covers paper money's fragility, Newton's odd role in currency reform, and why leaving gold reshaped war and finance.
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INSIGHT

Gold Predates Other Metals By Tens Of Thousands Of Years

  • Gold was used by humans 50,000 years ago as jewelry and value storage long before copper tools appeared.
  • Dominic Frisby cites paleolithic Spanish cave gold fragments to show gold's attraction predates practical utility and remains unchanged today.
ANECDOTE

Marco Polo's Warning About Early Paper Money

  • Marco Polo described Chinese paper money as like bark of trees passing for money under Kublai Khan.
  • Dominic Frisby notes Marco Polo preferred to be paid in gold and that Chinese paper currency collapsed shortly after Polo left.
INSIGHT

Isaac Newton Shaped Britain's Move To Gold

  • Isaac Newton helped design Britain's shift toward a gold standard by recoinage and cracking down on counterfeiting.
  • Dominic Frisby explains Newton proposed silver devaluation and his actions led Britain to an accidental pure gold standard.
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