I'm amused that the author seems to think that precious metals are in some way more real than paper money. They are limited in physical presence, perhaps, yes.

I'm amused that the author seems to think that precious metals are in some way more real than paper money. They are limited in physical presence, perhaps, yes. But their worth is no less determined by human whim than a series of binary jokes laughing their way through the Wall Street infrastructure. Money is one of the ultimate human abstracts.