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"Gold'en Transition" : II Trivia Quiz

The curse of gold wasn't limited to the ancient times. This quiz recounts the Golden Journey till the Gold Standard (Sequel to 'Gold - How is Thy Shine? - Part I')

A multiple-choice quiz by ace_sodium. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
ace_sodium

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
173,968

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
577

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. The first Guinea issued by Charles II (1663) had a little elephant imprinted on it. Why? Hint

It was to represent prosperity

It was the symbol of the 'New Bank of England'

Charles II had a pet elephant

It was the sign of the 'Africa Company'

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Question 2 of 10

2. The first Guinea had its edges inscribed with a logo, which was said to have been taken from Cardinal Richelieu's purse clasp. Which of the following was the logo? Hint

In God we trust

Decus et tutamen

Thou shalt not clip

To God

3. Who wrote "Representation to the Right Honorable the Lords Commissioner of His Majesty's Revenue" or just "Representation" for short? (Hint: He was the Warden of the Royal Mint at that time.) Hint

Lord MaCann

Sir Isaac Newton

Lord Clive

William Wordsworth

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Question 4 of 10

4. Which famous economist's letters to the editor of the "Morning Chronicle" about Britain's shrinking gold reserves and depreciation of the pound in the foreign exchange markets led to the formation of the 'Bullion Committee'? Hint

John Keynes

Walter Malthus

Adam Smith

David Ricardo

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Question 5 of 10

5. The 'Bullion Committee' report contained the detailed reports of many financial experts, academia. Only one name and his particulars was not mentioned. Who, according to most historians, is widely accepted, as this Mr. Incognito? Hint

J.P. Morgan

Pierre Briot

J.D. Rockefeller

N.M. Rothschild

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Question 6 of 10

6. What is the main reason why the Californian prospectors were called the "49-ers"? Hint

The initial prospectors were 49 in number

President Polk announced the 'new find' in 1849

It was P.O. Box number of Sutter's Mill

There was no particular reason behind it

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Question 7 of 10

7. Gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill by James Marshall, who worked as the chief mechanic for Sutter. Sutter owned vast properties n the Sacramento Valley. He ruled over it like an emperor. What was the name he called his 'Empire'? Hint

New Ark

New Helvetia

Sutterland

Milton Town

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Question 8 of 10

8. The California rush was followed by the discovery of gold in the Wellington area of Australia. Whose pioneering efforts led him to discover gold 'down under'? Hint

Edward Hammond Hargraves

John Patrick Smith

Robert Williams Vaughn

MacQuarie

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Question 9 of 10

9. Gold was discovered in South Africa in 1886. Who takes the credit for the initial discovery? Hint

Paul McCartney

Ringo Starr

George Harrison

John Lennon

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Question 10 of 10

10. The discovery of gold in South Africa wasn't exactly a success because of the difficulty in mining. What was the name of the new process that finally helped the mining corporations in their endeavours? Hint

Propelling Process

MacArthur Forest Cyanidation Process

Wind-Mining

Forestts Deep-Sheeling

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The first Guinea issued by Charles II (1663) had a little elephant imprinted on it. Why?

Answer: It was the sign of the 'Africa Company'

Initially, Guinea was defined as the equivalent of �1. The sign of Africa Company was taken because the guinea was made from gold imported from West Africa by the newly created Africa Company.

2. The first Guinea had its edges inscribed with a logo, which was said to have been taken from Cardinal Richelieu's purse clasp. Which of the following was the logo?

Answer: Decus et tutamen

It means 'An ornament and a safeguard' - and has appeared on the edge of British �1 coins since their reintroduction (as chunky cupro-nickel pieces) in 1983. The main purpose on the gold guinea was to curb clipping. Cardinal Richelieu was the patron of Pierre Blondeau, who along with Nicholas Briot, were considered the pioneers of 'edging' or 'graining' coins.

3. Who wrote "Representation to the Right Honorable the Lords Commissioner of His Majesty's Revenue" or just "Representation" for short? (Hint: He was the Warden of the Royal Mint at that time.)

Answer: Sir Isaac Newton

The document was written in the typical Newton style - highly analytical and laborious. It contained nothing but essays describing the weights of gold and silver used in various countries.

Answer: David Ricardo

From 1808, gold prices rose. The gold in a guinea was valued as �3 17s 10.5d to the ounce (the official British gold standard since 1719) while in the market, it was fetching over �4.

Answer: N.M. Rothschild

His comments were mentioned on Page 19. According to the detailed commentary on page 25, this witness was merely referred to as a 'very eminent Continental Merchant'.

6. What is the main reason why the Californian prospectors were called the "49-ers"?

Answer: President Polk announced the 'new find' in 1849

The announcement was made during the 'State of the Union' address to the Congress and that heralded the actual start of the big rush.

Answer: New Helvetia

Sutter was born in Switzerland, however he had to flee from there to escape his creditors. Hs journey took him to many other places before he reached California. However in the true sense of the 'Curse of Gold', he never made it big because his kingdom was soon taken over by squatters. He died in 1880 (at the age of 77), still trying to repossess his land.

8. The California rush was followed by the discovery of gold in the Wellington area of Australia. Whose pioneering efforts led him to discover gold 'down under'?

Answer: Edward Hammond Hargraves

He had initially gone to U.S.A. during the 'rush' and spent his last dollars to come to Australia. However he noticed similarity of terrains at Wellington and the gold area of California. He struck gold while panning at a tributary of the MacQuarrie River.

9. Gold was discovered in South Africa in 1886. Who takes the credit for the initial discovery?

Answer: George Harrison

He discovered it when he was digging up stone to build a house for his widowed neighbour at a place very close to Johannesburg.

Answer: MacArthur Forest Cyanidation Process

Developed by Scotsmen, John MacArthur and Robert and William Forest, this technology was offered to the mining corporations for a huge royalty. However the latter soon rebelled against the patents of the process. (MacArthur refused to bring down the royalty fee). The patents were declared void soon thereafter. Again 'The Curse of Gold' ensured MacArthur died penniless in 1920.

Source: Author ace_sodium

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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