Rome, gold and the value of money

What does the Roman Empire have to do with your money? More than you might think! If you take a look at history, you will often discover astonishing parallels to the present day. Even today's monetary system is not something that happened by itself. It is the result of centuries of developments, decisions and, unfortunately, repeated mistakes. The history of the Roman Empire shows this particularly clearly and has a lot to tell us.

Gold as the basis for trust

Around 27 BC, Rome introduced the aureus. A coin made of pure gold. Not a symbol, not a promise, but real material value. This gold standard was not just an economic tool, but an expression of stability, security and trust. People could rely on the fact that the money in their hands meant something. It was honest. It was limited. It was clear.

But as is so often the case, temptation grew with power. In the third century, debasement began. Rome increasingly mixed copper into its gold coins. The fineness fell, the external shine remained, but internally the money had become hollow.

The result: inflation, loss of confidence, economic collapse. It was not a single step, not a sudden event. It was a process, silent and gradual. A process that ultimately shook the foundations on which the Roman Empire had grown for centuries.

Attempts at reform and repeated mistakes

Emperor Constantine tried to turn things around in 309 AD and the solidus was introduced. Real gold again. Real substance again. And indeed, this step brought a return to confidence and stability. But Western Rome did not learn from the mistakes of the past and the monetary system was watered down again. The price was high and so the Western Roman Empire fell in 476.

The east was different. In Byzantium, the solidus remained in circulation for over a thousand years. Pure gold. Real purchasing power. A value that lasted for generations. This was no coincidence, but the result of a clear understanding of what money really means and how quickly it loses its effect when it is based solely on trust and no longer on substance.

The parallels to the present

It will already be clear to some of you: This story is repeating itself. Not in the same form, but in its basic structure. Today, we no longer pay with metal coins. Our money consists of paper or numbers on digital accounts. In the past, copper was mixed with gold. Today, we mix empty promises into a system that should actually be based on real values.

Until 1971, the US dollar was still tied to gold. One dollar corresponded to a defined equivalent value. However, President Nixon's decision to remove this peg opened the door to unlimited money creation. Since then, states and central banks have been creating money out of nothing.

A fragile system without cover

What this means is quietly but unmistakably apparent: Purchasing power is falling. Confidence is waning. Imbalances are growing. When money no longer has any intrinsic value, it becomes a question of faith. And faith quickly turns into doubt. What we saw in Rome is happening again, only by different means.

It is time to ask the right questions. What does money mean to you today? What do you work for? What retains its value even when systems falter? History gives us clear clues, but everyone has to find their own answer.

Loss of purchasing power from fiat currencies to gold

Gold remains a real constant

Gold is not a myth, not a relic of times gone by. It is a constant. Over generations, it has proven itself as a real value. Not because it promises, but because it is. Anyone who deals with their wealth today cannot avoid the question of how much reality there still is in their own money.

At via bonum, we support all people who want to make conscious decisions. Decisions that are not based on hope, but on experience. If you are ready to take the next step, we will be happy to assist you.

Let's take the right path together.