Gold Price History Timeline
Explore major historical events that moved gold prices from 1971 to 2024.
Event Type
Nixon Ends the Gold Standard
President Richard Nixon announced the suspension of the U.S. dollar's convertibility to gold, effectively ending the Bretton Woods system. This "Nixon Shock" fundamentally changed global monetary policy and unleashed gold from its $35/oz fixed price, allowing it to trade freely on international markets. The decision was made to combat inflation and protect U.S. gold reserves as countries like France and Switzerland were converting large amounts of dollars to gold.
Sources: Federal Reserve Archives, World Gold Council
Black Monday Stock Market Crash
Global stock markets crashed with the Dow Jones losing 22.6% in a single day - the largest one-day percentage decline in history. The crash was triggered by computerized trading, portfolio insurance strategies, and overvaluation concerns. Gold initially spiked on panic buying, jumping 4.2% to an intraday high of $491.50 on Black Monday itself, though it later retreated. The safe-haven buying was short-lived as forced liquidations hit all assets.
Sources: SEC Market Analysis, Federal Reserve Reports
September 11 Terrorist Attacks
The 9/11 terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington D.C. shocked global markets and triggered immediate safe-haven buying. Gold jumped from $271/oz to $287/oz within days as investors sought security. The attacks led to prolonged geopolitical uncertainty, wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and a decade-long gold bull market as the "War on Terror" drove deficit spending and monetary expansion.
Price Movement
From $271/oz to $287/oz
1 week
From $4.15/oz to $4.45/oz
1 week
Sources: NYMEX Trading Records, LBMA Price Archives
Lehman Brothers Collapse & Financial Crisis
The bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers triggered the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. Credit markets froze, major banks teetered on collapse, and global stock markets plunged. Initially, gold dipped as investors sold everything for cash, but the subsequent Federal Reserve response - near-zero interest rates and quantitative easing - ignited a massive gold rally. Gold went from $869/oz in September 2008 to $1,900/oz by 2011 as central banks printed trillions.
Price Movement
$1,900/oz in 2011
3 years (2008-2011)
$48.70/oz in 2011
3 years (2008-2011)
From $2,250/oz to $850/oz
6 months (initial crash)
Sources: World Gold Council, Federal Reserve Economic Data
European Sovereign Debt Crisis
Greece's debt crisis spread to Portugal, Ireland, Italy, and Spain (the "PIIGS"), threatening the eurozone's survival. Fears of sovereign defaults and potential euro breakup drove investors to gold as the ultimate safe haven. Gold hit its all-time nominal high of $1,921/oz in September 2011. The crisis lasted years, requiring multiple EU bailouts and ECB intervention through Mario Draghi's famous "whatever it takes" pledge in 2012.
Sources: European Central Bank, IMF Reports
Fed "Taper Tantrum"
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke announced plans to reduce ("taper") the Fed's bond-buying program (QE3), signaling the end of ultra-loose monetary policy. Markets panicked, bond yields spiked, and gold crashed from $1,475/oz in late May to below $1,200/oz by the end of the year as investors priced in higher real interest rates. This marked the end of gold's 12-year bull run and began a three-year bear market. The taper actually began in December 2013.
Price Movement
From $1,475/oz to $1,062/oz
6 months
From $23.80/oz to $15.20/oz
6 months
Sources: Federal Reserve FOMC Minutes, Bloomberg
Brexit Referendum
The United Kingdom voted 52% to 48% to leave the European Union, shocking markets that expected a "Remain" victory. The British pound crashed to 31-year lows, global stocks tumbled, and uncertainty flooded financial markets. Gold surged 8% in two days as investors sought safety from the geopolitical chaos. The vote triggered years of political turmoil and negotiations that kept gold elevated.
Price Movement
From $1,255/oz to $1,357/oz
2 days
From $17.10/oz to $18.75/oz
2 days
Sources: LBMA, Bank of England
U.S.-China Trade War Begins
President Trump imposed tariffs on $34 billion of Chinese goods, marking the start of the U.S.-China trade war. China immediately retaliated with matching tariffs. The escalating conflict disrupted global supply chains, slowed economic growth, and created sustained uncertainty. Gold rallied from $1,250/oz to $1,550/oz over 14 months as investors hedged against economic slowdown and currency devaluation. Industrial metals like copper suffered from reduced manufacturing demand.
Price Movement
$1,550/oz in Aug 2019
14 months
From $3.30/lb to $2.70/lb
12 months
Sources: U.S. Trade Representative, LME
COVID-19 Pandemic Declaration
The WHO declared COVID-19 a global pandemic as the virus spread worldwide, triggering unprecedented lockdowns and economic collapse. Central banks launched the largest monetary stimulus in history - the Fed cut rates to zero and purchased $120 billion/month in assets. Gold initially dipped during the March liquidity crisis but then exploded to an all-time high of $2,067/oz in August 2020. Silver surged 150% from its March lows. Trillions in stimulus and negative real rates made precious metals incredibly attractive.
Price Movement
$2,067/oz (all-time high)
5 months
$29.14/oz
5 months (from March lows)
From $595/oz to $1,025/oz
5 months (from March lows)
From $2,875/oz to $1,985/oz
2 months (initial crash)
Sources: World Gold Council, WHO, Federal Reserve
Russia Invades Ukraine
Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, triggering the largest European war since 1945. Western nations imposed severe sanctions on Russia, disrupting global energy and commodity markets. Gold initially spiked to $2,070/oz (matching the COVID high) as fear peaked, but later retreated as the war became protracted. Palladium (where Russia controls 40% of supply) soared 80% in days. Nickel trading was suspended on the LME after prices more than doubled in hours.
Price Movement
$2,070/oz
2 weeks
$3,440/oz (record high)
3 weeks
From $1,015/oz to $1,248/oz
2 weeks
Sources: LME, LBMA, World Platinum Investment Council
Inflation Hits 40-Year High
U.S. inflation reached 9.1% year-over-year in June 2022 - the highest since 1981. Driven by pandemic stimulus, supply chain disruptions, and energy shocks from the Ukraine war, inflation forced central banks into aggressive rate hikes. The Federal Reserve raised rates from 0% to 5.5% in just 16 months - the fastest hiking cycle in 40 years. Despite gold's traditional inflation-hedge role, it paradoxically fell as rising real yields made non-yielding gold less attractive. This broke the typical inflation-gold correlation.
Price Movement
From $1,850/oz to $1,807/oz
6 months (counterintuitive)
From $26.90/oz to $22.35/oz
6 months
Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Reserve
Record Central Bank Gold Purchases
Central banks around the world, led by China, India, Turkey, and Poland, purchased a record 1,136 tonnes of gold in 2022 - the highest annual demand since 1950. The trend accelerated in 2023 with over 1,000 tonnes purchased again. The buying spree was driven by efforts to diversify away from the U.S. dollar following Russia sanctions, concerns about Western financial system weaponization, and de-dollarization strategies. This sustained institutional demand created a strong price floor for gold throughout 2023-2024.
Sources: World Gold Council, IMF, People's Bank of China
Silicon Valley Bank Collapse
Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), the 16th largest U.S. bank, collapsed in the second-largest bank failure in U.S. history. Signature Bank and First Republic followed within weeks. The crisis stemmed from rapid rate hikes causing bond portfolio losses and deposit flight. Gold surged from $1,810/oz to $2,050/oz in three weeks (+13%) as fears of systemic banking contagion echoed 2008. The crisis forced emergency Fed intervention and temporary suspension of rate hikes.
Sources: FDIC, Federal Reserve, LBMA
U.S. Debt Ceiling Crisis
The United States came perilously close to defaulting on its debt in May 2023 as Congress battled over raising the $31.4 trillion debt ceiling. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned of "economic catastrophe" if the U.S. defaulted. The standoff was resolved just days before the deadline, but not before triggering market volatility. Gold benefited from safe-haven demand as investors worried about U.S. fiscal responsibility. The crisis highlighted growing concerns about America's debt trajectory and political dysfunction.
Sources: U.S. Treasury, Congressional Budget Office, Bloomberg
Israel-Gaza War Escalation
Palestinian factions launched a surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, triggering the deadliest conflict in the region in decades. Israel responded with a massive military operation in Gaza. The conflict raised fears of broader Middle East instability, with potential involvement of Iran and other regional actors. Gold spiked immediately as investors sought safe-haven assets amid geopolitical uncertainty. The war disrupted regional stability and raised concerns about potential escalation into a wider conflict.
Price Movement
From $1,860/oz to $2,009/oz
2 weeks
From $21.80/oz to $23.10/oz
2 weeks
Sources: Reuters, World Gold Council, Al Jazeera
Iran-Israel Direct Military Exchange
For the first time, Iran launched a direct missile and drone attack on Israeli territory in April 2024, marking a dramatic escalation from decades of proxy conflicts. The attack came in retaliation for an Israeli strike on Iran's consulate in Damascus. Israel threatened retaliation, raising fears of a direct war between the two regional powers. Gold prices surged to near-record highs as the Middle East teetered on the brink of a wider war. The incident underscored the fragility of regional stability and the risk of escalation.
Sources: BBC, Financial Times, LBMA
Federal Reserve Begins Rate Cut Cycle
After holding rates at 5.25-5.50% for over a year (the highest since 2001), the Federal Reserve cut rates by 50 basis points, signaling the end of the inflation-fighting cycle. The move came as inflation cooled to 2.5% and labor markets showed signs of weakening. Gold had already been rallying in anticipation, reaching new all-time highs above $2,600/oz. Lower rates reduce the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding gold and often weaken the dollar, both bullish for precious metals.
Price Movement
From $2,115/oz to $2,685/oz (new record)
12 months (Sep 2023-Sep 2024)
From $22.75/oz to $31.40/oz
12 months
Sources: Federal Reserve FOMC Statement, CME Group
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