Many friends and family are always curious about what our kids learn since they are not in a traditional school setting. Rest assured that they learn something new every day. Recently, Michael took Lucas and Henry and their cousins Violet and Barret on a deep dive into the world of gold. They weren’t just learning about gold—they were touching it, tracking its price, and ultimately buying some for their inheritance portfolios. Here’s how it went!
Day 1: The History of Gold
They started the week by watching a documentary on gold’s historical significance. The kids learned how ancient civilizations, from the Egyptians to the Romans, prized gold for its beauty and value. Lucas was particularly intrigued by the gold used in ancient tombs, while Henry thought the California Gold Rush was the coolest part.
They explored what makes gold valuable and how it compares to other metals. They discussed why gold has been considered “real money” for centuries. Their verdict? Gold has always been a universal currency because of its rarity and durability—something that hasn’t changed in thousands of years.
Bonus Fact: Henry discovered that all the gold ever mined could fit into a cube about 22 meters per side. Mind-blowing!
Day 2: How Gold is Mined
The second day was about gold’s journey from the ground to the market. They watched a video on mining techniques and researched the top gold-producing countries. The boys created timelines showing how gold goes from deep underground to shiny coins and bars.
Lucas was fascinated by the dangerous conditions of underground mining, while Henry was more interested in open-pit mining. They also found out there are small gold mines in Georgia! If we ever wanted to, we could try panning for gold ourselves (though they quickly realized that’s not a get-rich-quick scheme).
Day 3: Understanding Gold and Silver Prices
Now that they knew where gold came from, they needed to understand why its price changes. They checked live gold prices and plotted its value over the past ten years. The boys were surprised to see how much gold surged during the financial crisis.
Their biggest discussion was about why people invest in gold. Lucas pointed out that during uncertain times, people want something reliable. Henry, ever the pragmatist, asked, “But wouldn’t it be easier to just invest in stocks?”—which led to a great debate on gold vs. stocks.
Bonus Research: They looked up gold prices during the 2008 financial crisis and saw how uncertainty made its value skyrocket.
While learning about gold prices, they also discovered that silver is much cheaper than gold. The value is different for several reasons including that silver is found in greater quantities, gold has a greater historical significance as a symbol of wealth and status, and the mining costs of silver are less than gold.
Day 4: The Big Purchase – Buying Gold and Silver!
This was the moment they had been waiting for! They visited local coin and pawn shops to see real gold up close. The boys compared prices between dealers and checked how much they’d need to buy 1/10 oz each. They calculated the final cost based on the spot price and learned how dealers charge a small premium.
When they finally held their own tiny gold and silver pieces, the excitement was real. Lucas bought gold and silver and Henry ended up just buying silver because gold is so expensive. It was a powerful moment—they weren’t just learning about finance; they were actively investing.
Final Thoughts & Reflections
At the end of the week, we discussed over dinner:
- What surprised you most?
- Lucas: “I had no idea how much work went into mining gold. It’s way harder to get than I thought.”
- Henry: “I thought gold was just for jewelry, but now I see why people use it for investments.”
- Is gold a good long-term investment?
- They both agreed that gold holds value well, but Henry still thinks stocks are the better option for growth. Lucas liked that gold was “real” and not just numbers on a screen.
- Would you rather inherit gold or stocks?
- Lucas and Henry wanted a mix of both. Either way, they understood the importance of diversifying wealth.
The Takeaway
This lesson was more than just an academic exercise—it was a hands-on way to understand history, economics, and investing. The best part? They now own a small piece of real wealth that will grow with them.
This won’t be our last time exploring investing with them, but gold was a great place to start.
