Money is the tool of men who have reached a high level of productivity and a
long-range control over their lives. Money is not merely a tool of exchange:
much more importantly, it is a tool of saving, which permits delayed
consumption and buys time for future production. To fulfill this requirement,
money has to be some material commodity which is imperishable, rare,
homogeneous, easily stored, not subject to wide fluctuations of value, and
always in demand among those you trade with. This leads you to the decision to
use gold as money. Gold money is a tangible value in itself and a token of
wealth actually produced. When you accept a gold coin in payment for your
goods, you actually deliver the goods to the buyer; the transaction is as safe
as simple barter. When you store your savings in the form of gold coins, they
represent the goods which you have actually produced and which have gone to buy
time for other producers, who will keep the productive process going, so that
you’ll be able to trade your coins for goods any time you wish.