Gold · Also called: bullion · XAU
Gold is one of the units this atlas treats as a full monetary system — not only a ticker symbol. Its story runs from Lydia in c. 600 BCE through note design, central-bank practice and the FX role it plays today.
- History anchor — c. 600 BCE · Lydia
- Symbol — Au
- Design — Cash design is public art and anti-counterfeiting engineering at once. Gold notes and coins carry portraits, landscapes and machine-readable features.
Frequently asked questions
What currency uses the ISO code XAU?
Gold (XAU).
What is XAU?
The metal that defined monetary standards from antiquity through Bretton Woods.
Does XAU show a live exchange rate here?
No. This ISO landing is a static map to the atlas entry for Gold. There is no ticker, bid, or booking rate on Tool-Lifes /money.
When was Gold established in this atlas?
Gold is anchored to c. 600 BCE (Lydia) in the history chapter — a founding or reform year, not today’s board price.