RUSSIAN ROUBLES THE GOLD BULLION STANDARD BARS INGOTS WEALTHIEST COUNTRIES A TO Z TOP TEN 10 OF THE RICHEST NATIONS IN THE WORLD SOLID REAL MONEY NOT WORTHLESS PAPER PROMISES FROM BANKS OR CRYPTO CURRENCY

RUSSIAN GOLD RESERVES - A - Z

Dig for treasure with our A - Z or set a course for HOME me hearties

When food shortages and the energy crisis really begins to bite, only gold, silver and gemstones will be worth anything, by way of savings and pensions. Banks who trade in real coin of the realm, are the only ones who will be trusted in the future. Coins could soon make a comeback. The good news is that countries do not need to mint their own. Anyone can produce a quarter ounce dollar, based on the value of gold itself, rather than what any nation says it is worth. We'd suggest that gold is index linked to food, timber and other essential commodities.

In days gone by they traded in real money based on solid gold and silver minted coins. Today, paper currency is based on worthless promises, made by governments (and the IMF) that are typically corrupt in some measure; political pirates, racking up staggering national debts, based on flawed policies. There are though some countries who are building up real wealth. Gold reserves as ingots and bars, that will be worth something when the digital/paper system collapses. Paper and digital currency is no better than Crypto currencies. Here today, gone tomorrow. Smarter individuals changed their promissory notes for something more tangible. Taking control of their lives back from banks and crooked politicians. Show us an honest one please?

This move displeased Governments, who froze accounts and assets of many of those joining in the gold stampede, on realization of what politicians were doing to them. So to preserve the value of savings as pensions in later life. Many paper money dissidents were arrested and interrogated by state police - by way of terror tactics.

So it is that when John Storm discovers a long lost hoard of treasure, a number of nations are keen to get their grubby mitts on it. Adding John to their hit list. To add to their dwindling stockpiles, even though they still issue unsupported paper notes for all those yet to wake up to the economic facts of life. These are estimates as at 2023.

TOP TEN RESERVES IN 2021

5. RUSSIA @ 2,298.5 TONS OF GOLD

For the past seven years, Russia has become the second largest buyer of gold in the world (Turkey has the first spot as it bought 134 tons of gold for the second consecutive year). It has led to surpassing China in the list of one of the top countries with the largest gold reserves in 2018. Only 22% of its total holdings are gold for Russia. It also bought 227 tons of gold to expand its currency from US dollars. Hardly surprising, since the invasion of Ukraine, and for sure advance intention of potential aggression.

Russia has determinedly tried to expand its currencies from US dollars to gold and other foreign currencies in the last three years as its relationship with the western parts grows sour. Russia sold most of its American treasuries to buy this enormous amount of gold. Obviously, not trusting paper. As a signal to all investors.

Russia can’t get enough of this precious metal and has spent around $40 billion (£28.7bn) in the five years to 2022 to boost its gold reserves, allowing it to overtake China in the rankings and reduce its reliance on the US dollar. Plus, it has a billion-dollar gold mining industry, which means this metal-rich country doesn’t need to rely on imports either. Its gold reserves increased by 6.22 tonnes during the third quarter of 2021, the fifth largest increase in the world.

However, Russia's invasion of Ukraine – and subsequent condemnation by much of the world – has rendered its impressive gold stocks almost useless. Sanctions have pushed the Russian Federation out of the global gold trade, with London banning all bars from Russian refineries and the US Senate prohibiting citizens from making any transactions that involve Russian gold.

As the ruble crashes in value, some analysts have suggested the country could return to a gold standard system to stabilise its economy. But whether this will be enough to prevent economic collapse in Russia, while continuing to fund Putin's military, remains to be seen – especially as the country's reserves are actually falling. Between the first and second quarter of 2022, Russia's gold stocks fell from 2,301.64 tonnes to 2,298.53 tonnes, which is particularly surprising since the nation reportedly plundered gold from Sudan at least 16 times that year.

TOP TEN

1. The United States of America, with 8,133.5 tons of gold
2. Germany, with 3,362.4 tons of gold
3. Italy, with 2,451.8 tons of gold
4. France, with 2,436.2 tons of gold
5. Russia, with 2,298.5 tons of gold
6. China, with 1,958.3 tons of gold
7. Switzerland, with 1,040 tons of gold
8. Japan, with 765.2 tons of gold
9. India, with 686.8 tons of gold.
10. The Netherlands, with 612.4 tons of gold

HOW DOES HAVING GOLD RESERVES IMPACT A COUNTRY?

Any country that exports gold or has a huge gold reserve will inevitably experience a rise in its currency as the price of gold
increases. This price rise of gold increases the trade or helps balance the trade deficit. It also leads to an increase in the country’s exports.

On the other side, if any country lacks gold in its reserves and is a massive importer of it, they have a weaker economy whenever the gold price increases.

In 2020, the top 10 countries traded more than one metric ton of gold, emphasizing just how important this metal is in the world economy.

According to the WGC (World Gold Council) data from April 2021, central banks bought about 273 tons of gold in 2020. International Monetary Fund is not a country; thus, it is not included in the list. However, if it were, it would be in the third position with 2,814 tons of gold in its safe.

The best known golden treasures are Doubloons, Guineas and Sovereigns. Other forms of transportable money are diamonds, rubies and emeralds.

Treasure Island was written by Robert Louis Stevenson, becoming an instant hit, popular with children and adults, the subject of many films and graphic novels.

STORM BY NAME, STORMY BY NATURE - Only two people knew where Henry Morgan's golden hoard was stashed, and they are both in Davy Jones Locker. Blackbeard was tortured by a British officer, trying to extract the secret, Henry Morgan died of a heart attack in Jamaica. John Storm discovers the location, but refuses to tell, even in the International Court, where Haigue prosecutors try every trick in the book to make him talk.

RUSSIAN ROUBLES BANKS & BANKING BIGGEST INTERNATIONAL GOLD BULLION BARS RESERVES BY COUNTRY - A TO Z INDEX OF WEALTHY NATIONS TOP TEN

Dig for treasure with our A - Z or set a course for HOME me hearties