Want to protect yourself from inflation? Just buy gold, GA bill says [View all]
Want to protect yourself from inflation? Just buy gold, GA bill says
Irene Wright
USA TODAY
Jan. 30, 2026, 4:03 a.m. ET
For thousands of years, humans have been entranced by gold. From the Spanish Conquistadors looking for El Dorado to the tombs of Egypt's ancient pharaohs, gold has been a symbol of power, status and wealth. ... It has also maintained its value.
When the U.S. Mint and a federal monetary system was established, our money was backed by gold. It stayed this way until 1971 when Nixon officially moved away from the "gold standard" in what was expected to be a temporary change. In the years since, while the value of the U.S. dollar has fluctuated significantly, gold has stayed consistent. It's currently valued at more than $5,000 an ounce.
Georgia is now the latest state to try and get back to gold, a move legally designated to the states by the U.S. Constitution, Article I, Section 10. ... SB 424, introduced by
Senator Marty Harbin (R-Tyrone) on Jan. 27, would make gold and silver in the form of bars, ingots or coins into legal tender in the state of Georgia.
The "
Transactional Gold and Silver Act" has been sponsored by 17 Georgia senators, and is being considered during the 2026 legislative session.
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