Iron/steel. I think every metal finds it's "own level".
Ancient people were as smart as we.
Yes, once iron was
rare. But it was just too useful to relegate to the precious metals larder.
Ever notice that gold, and silver were while to die for(sorry channeling a Valley Girl for a second there) were always an adornment or embellishment? A
cup is a
cup. It holds liquids, a gold
cup signifies wealth, though a lead or
wood cup works as well.
Coins in a way though a strong
part of commerce, were, in a way that way also. Would as much iron/steel as used in coinage have been used for the same? Gold/silver in a way, "just laid there'.
"I shall use henceforth only gold swords" said the unrecorded ancient chieftan, shortly before he was conquered by iron sword bearing savages.
Once "invented" iron and steel were just far to valuable as a tool to just be used as a medium of commerce and war; i.e. as opposed to representing wealth as opposed to a real tool that could gain one gold and silver.
Not to denigrate gold/silver. I once read that a young mideval
knight, newly minted, so to speak,
had to in many cases spend the amount in gold and silver that an
F-16 would go for today, in terms of arming and horsing himself. Yes, a
good sword was valuable in terms of gold and silver, but gold/silver would never suffice for the cold iron/steel he
had to have to win more of the same.
Ever stop to think why gold and silver were used as
symbols? They were
rare and hard to get. A chunk of gold this big is worth this much, real property? Be it beautiful slave girls, a nice villa, and fresh imported fruit? Gold and silver are mere cold,
rare metals. What they symbolized were what counted.
"That ruler has gold, silver, slave girls, a villa, horses, slaves, and all the
good things in life. I have some gold (a cold hard metal). I can buy the iron with which to get all those things".
BruceBasemetal