dollars, usually contain no less than 31 grams of gold. On the average (considering the consistent rise in the exchange rate of gold), the value of gold is around USD12 per gram. Here, it is clear that the currency value assigned by the government to a gold bullion coin has no meaning. Below is a list of some of the government-issued gold and silver bullion coins: 1. Gold bars however are becoming less and less an option among investors due to the difficulties (in the verification process, transportation, and storage) associated with them. Opening a gold account: Gold accounts are offered by most banks in Switzerland. Here, gold can be bought or sold in much the same way foreign currencies are dealt. It was based on the Spanish gold coin called the doubloon. The United States adopted the gold specie standard "de jure" (by law) in 1873, using the American Gold Eagle as unit. Gold Exchange Standard: In this gold standard, only the circulation of coins minted from lesser valuable metals (such as silver) may be involved. The price of osmium, as of January 2010, is about USD32.15 per troy ounce (USD12,217 per kilogram). 5. Iridium - This element is represented by the symbol Ir. Its atomic number is 77. Like osmium, iridium is very hard and brittle; it has a different color though - silvery-white. Its principal use is for electrical purposes, mainly because of its density and its high resistance to corrosion even at extremely high temperatures. In surfaces of high quality pens (because of its high mechanical and chemical resistance). Obviously because of its extremely high price, rhodium signifies wealth. In some cases, it has been used in awards or recognitions, such as when the Guinness Book of World Records handed out a rhodium-plated disc to Paul McCartney in 1979, in recognition of his being the all-time best-selling recording artist and songwriter in history. It is used, customarily and legally, as a means of payment or a medium of exchange. Gram and troy weight are the units of measurement used for gold. To indicate the amount of gold present in, say, a piece of jewelry, the term "carat" is used. A necklace, for instance, that is 24 carats means that it is made of pure gold.