Gold has always played an important part in history. Throughout the ages the very thought of gold created visions of riches and power. Early scientists tried to change base metals into gold. Gold was one of the first metals that man discovered and the oldest surviving gold decorative objects come from the early Stone Age, and we know that gold coins were in circulation in the 7th century BC. Gold was one of the gifts that were given to the infant Christ by the three kings and right up until the early part of the twentieth century most countries measured their currencies against their reserves of gold. Until recently more than half of the world's gold was mined in South Africa's Transvaal and there are also vast deposits in the USSR. Although silver can be polished and textured in multiple ways to catch the light and the eye, there remains no metal quite like gold. Unlike other elements, gold naturally possesses a subtle array of unique and beautiful colors. The atoms in gold are actually heavier than in silver and other metals. This attribute makes the electrons move faster, which in turn allows for some light to be absorbed by the gold—a process that Einstein’s theory of relativity helped to discern. Perhaps gold’s physical quality of absorbing light makes its special shine come literally from within.