You really can't blame us in the US for being so ignorant, not stupid, about gold/silver. We've had 2, maybe 3, generations of young people who have grown up knowing nothing about gold and silver, other than that it's jewelry. Period. When Nixon closed the gold window in '71 that was about it, imo. Just like Latin, the history and use of gold went out the window. More important things to learn.

Schools don't discuss it and parents and even grandparents have simply forgotten about it. I've shown 1/4 and 1/2 ounce gold coins to young people, and some not so young, and asked them if they knew what they were. None knew right away. All were amazed that they even existed.

Most of the youngest wanted to know what they were for. More than one told me, with great assurance, that they were souvenirs from Disney World. For 50 cents or a buck or so, they said, you get them stamped out of a machine. Probably copper plated zinc.

So, to me, it's no wonder people laugh when you bring up the subject. It is completely foreign to them.

If ever we go back on a gold or silver standard, however, I doubt it would take long to get the younger folks up to speed.