Enter aluminum. This, the metal that makes jets and beer cans possible, seems an extremely unlikely candidate to be formed into bullion bars. After all, the price for aluminum futures is usually quoted in tons. But this wasn’t always the case. So difficult was this metal to isolate in the early days following its discovery back in the 19th century that aluminum cutlery was used by the emperor of France at his banquets. Only the most esteemed dignitaries received the honor to wield aluminum-ware while lesser VIPs suffered the snub of eating with mere golden utensils.

Ohhhhh if only I could go back in time and put up a roadside kiosk in Versailles full of these bars :-)