Most mined gold is stored as bullion: valuation For Authenticity Of Gold Bullion (1983). It is also, however, used extensively in jewellery, either in its pure form or as an alloy: Gold alloy particularly suitable for jewelry (1931).
The metal is also used for coinage: A gold alloy (1997), and has been used as standard for monetary systems in some countries.
Gold can be beaten into very thin sheets (gold leaf) to be used in art, for decoration and as architectural ornament: Machine for Cutting Leaf Gold and other Leaf Metal (1895).
Electroplating can be used to cover another metal with a very thin layer of gold: Improvements in and relating to the Electrodeposition of Gold (1903).
Dentists sometimes use gold alloys in fillings: Improvements in dental gold fillings (1932), and gold compounds are used to treat some cases of arthritis: Phosphine Or Phosphite Gold Complexes Of Thioethanol And Derivatives Thereof To Treat Arthritis (1974).
Gold nanoparticles are increasingly being used as industrial catalysts: Gold-based alloy nanoparticles for use in fuel cell catalysts (2006). Vinyl acetate, which is used to make PVA (for glue, paint and resin), is made using a gold-containing catalyst: Preparation Of A Palladium Or Gold Containing Catalyst, Use In Preparation Of Vinyl Acetate (1995).
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All patent information has been obtained from Espacenet (European Patent Office).