Gold 2011 - Special Report

Gold has had a hold on mankind since it was first mined in the Copper Age. Since then, empires have been built on it, financial crises triggered by it and fortunes made from it.

Speculators, central banks, goldbugs and women in India, who view gold strictly as an investment, and compare it to the cost of other commodities and investments, from onions to fuel to real estate.

A look inside South Africa's Rand Refinery, where the world's gold is refined, then delivered all over the globe to banks, mints, industrial manufacturers and jewelry makers.

The  age-old idea is attracting new fans, amid growing investor concern that enormous government borrowing is weakening the dollar and spark hyper-inflation.

Almost no one outside the sponsor (the World Gold Council) has ever seen the gold in the world's largest vault — until now.

Gold is increasingly harder to find, forcing thousands of miners to drill deeper, at higher costs and greater danger.

These should be boom times for the mining business in California and Nevada, where a comeback is underway. These days, however, there are other considerations.

For some investors, there's nothing like the real thing. After all, it's not about paper. So, where and how should gold owners store their bullion and coins?

In India, where gold is central to the psyche, consumers are buying more than ever — despite the rising price.

How the metal goes from the mine to bullion.

From bars and coins to funds, futures and stocks, there are investment vehicles for almost every kind of investor.

The SPDR Gold Trust is by far the largest of the many gold-oriented exchange traded funds. What's it all about? An FAQ.

Overshadowed by the staggering rally in gold and silver prices have been sharp increases in less glamormous metals, including copper, nickel, iron and cobalt.

If bullion and coins are not right for you, find out how the performance of gold-based mutual funds and exchange traded funds stack up over the years.

Gold Bullion International's CEO explains the advantages.  "When you own a real asset, there's no counterparty risk between you and the real asset," he says