Answer:

Barring currency, if there could have been any indicator to measure wealth in the world, it would definitely have been GOLD. Gold is undoubtedly a precious METAL for which there have been wars also. This natural resource has always fascinated everyone and has managed to retain its IMPORTANCE over centuries. People who understand metals will know that gold is not a rare metal, but it's difficult to find and extract the same in large quantities with pre-industrial technology. Gold’s prime characteristics of being corrosion-resistant and easy-to-work on makes it highly desirable for various purposes, such as decoration and other industrial purposes.

Price of Gold is not set by any organization, but it depends upon the cost of producing it (extracting it from the ground and then purifying it) and how people are willing to pay for it. Gold, unlike many other metals, is relatively expensive to PRODUCE, thus making the base price fairly high. If a lot of people wish to use gold and are looking to buy it, they will have to compete with each other for it, which will ultimately result in a price rise. If not there is not much demand for gold, the price will be near the actual cost of production. ALUMINUM is a lot more commonly found in the earth's crust than gold, thus it is cheaper to produce.