Gold is the oldest form of money in the history of the world and perhaps the ultimate hedge against inflation. Gold has been used for at least 6,000 years, approximately 25X longer than the US Dollar - which is the longest standing government paper currency. The US Dollar has thus far had a lifespan of 230 years, with the average government issued currency lasting 35 years. To date 593 different forms of paper money have gone completely extinct. Unlike paper money, gold cannot be printed by governments. As a result, paper monies tend to inflate towards worthlessness, while gold has only increased in rarity and value.