Gold to the amount of $1,081,000,000, is estimated to have been in existence at the commencement of the Christian era.  At the period of the discovery of America it had diminished to $135,000,000; after that event, it gradually increased, and in 1600 it attained to $154,000,000, in 1700 it reached $398,000,000, in 1800 it amounted to $1,156,000,000, in 1853 it attained to $3,332,000,000, and at the present time the amount of gold in existence is estimated to be $8,166,000,000; which, if melted into one mass, could be contained in the basement of Bunker Hill Monument, which is a cube of thirty feet.  Of the amount of gold in existence $6,000,000,000 is estimated to be in coin and bullion, $1,000,000,000 in watches, and the remainder in plate, jewelry, and ornaments.  Of the amount of gold in existence $2,374,000,000 is estimated to have been obtained from North America, $1,739,000,000 from South America; $1,858,000,000 from Asia (including Australia, New Zealand, and Oceanica), $945,000,000 from Europe, and $1,250,000,000 from Africa.  The amount of the precious metals now in existence is estimated to be $13,670,000,000.

Gold, as compared with former periods, in regard to its annual product, has attained, within the last forty-two years, to enormous proportions.  At the date of the discovery of America it was but $100,000; after the occurrence of that event it gradually increased, and in 1800 it was $17,000,000, and in 1853 it reached its acme, when it was $236,000,000; it soon afterwards gradually decreased, and now it is but $98,000,000.

Gold has changed places with silver as regards coinage.  Since 1726 the gold coinage of the French mint has amounted to 11,400,000,000 francs, of which 8,200,000,000 francs have been issued since 1850.  Since 1603 the gold coinage of the British mint has amounted to L409,000,000, of which L253,000,000 have been issued since 1850.  Since 1792 the gold coinage of the United States mint has amounted to $1,357,000,000, of which $1,257,000,000 have been issued since 1850.  Since 1664 the gold coinage of the Russian mint has amounted to 900,000,000 roubles, of which 630,000,000 have been issued since 1850.  The twenty-five-franc piece of France contains 112 grains of pure metal; the sovereign of England, 113 grains; the new doubloon of Spain, and the half-eagle of the United States, 116 grains each; and the gold lion of the Netherlands, and double-ounce of Sicily, 117 grains each.  It was proposed, a few years since, to adopt a uniform system of coinage throughout the world, so that the coins of one nation may circulate in any other without the expense of re-coinage, “a consummation devoutly to be wished.”  The gold coinage of the principal countries of the world has increased from $77,000,000 in 1848 to $300,000,000 in 1854; in 1876 it declined to $250,000,000, since which it has continued to decrease, and is now but $90,000,000.  The gold coinage of the United States mint, since 1849, has amounted to $1,281,420,038.  In proportion as the wealth of a country increases it requires a currency of higher value.  Gold, owing to its greater supply, and more convenient portability, is steadily gaining in the channels of commercial exchange upon silver.