The Deutsche Bundesbank has opened a special exhibition all about gold at its Money Museum. The Bank has chosen some of the most interesting gold bars and coins from its collection to put on public display for the very first time.

"The selection ranges from the oldest to the newest gold bars and gives visitors a rare insight that’s normally prevented for security reasons," remarked Executive Board member Carl-Ludwig Thiele, speaking at the launch event. He added that the exhibition also includes rare pieces of special significance from the Bundesbank’s numismatic collection, from the ancient world’s solidus to ducats from Florence and Venice right up to gold coins from the modern era. In addition, visitors have the opportunity to learn about gold’s historical significance as a means of payment, as well as where in the world the precious metal is found and how those deposits are extracted and processed. The exhibition also includes a display of the tools used by Bundesbank employees to check whether the bars are genuine gold.

Providing transparency

© Nils Thies

The exhibition is part of the Bundesbank’s response to the general public’s desire for greater transparency concerning gold. The ongoing initiative has already seen Germany’s central bank beginning to supply more information about gold storage locations and all the bars housed in its vaults over the past few years. "The special exhibition rounds off the Bundesbank’s transparency drive on the subject of gold. At the same time, it looks at the topic from another angle," explained Thiele.

The exhibition will be open from 11 April 2018 to 30 September 2018. Visitors are welcome during the Money Museum’s normal opening hours of 9.00 to 17.00 Monday to Friday and Sundays. Admission is free.