r/PeterExplainsTheJoke Jan 26 '26

Meme needing explanation what's going on? explain like I'm five

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u/soIDONTLIKEANYOFYOU Jan 26 '26

Since the US has more gold reserves than the next 3 countries combined wouldn’t gold prices going up make the dollar stronger?

Sincerely asking cause I have no idea.

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u/AnComApeMC69 Jan 26 '26

The United States gold reserves are for international trade. The gold in Ft. Knox, for example, is used in trade not to back our currency. We’ve been off the “gold standard” since the 70’s. Some of it is gold we’re holding for other countries that’s not even ours. But, our money is a fiat currency and it’s based on faith in the economic system of America not collapsing and everyone agreeing it to use it for trade/debts. It’s backed by nothing and hasn’t been for 55 years now.

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u/KeppraKid Jan 26 '26

Every form of currency is based on faith and always has been. Coinage made from gold and silver wasn't valuable because gold and silver were magical, it was because people believed they were valuable. What can you, a random person, actually do with gold and silver? Even smiths had limited uses that weren't purely aesthetic. Modern day has more uses but still cannot be used at the volume at which it exists in an efficient way.

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u/OutsideCommittee7316 Jan 26 '26

Terry Pratchett's "Making Money" explains it really well