Gold Ipod cases and Gold ATM machines

These are some of those exuberant signs that gold is reaching a top, right? Like when Dubai decided to build an enclosed ski resort in a desert and then proceeded to announce major debt issues a year or so later?

Or is this just a sign that gold is turning into a relevant and relatively liquid currency that is going to be a mainstream staple? There are 3 currencies that get a lot of attention: (1) US Dollar because its the currency of the strongest and largest economy as well as being the reserve currency for all nations; (2) the Euro because the European Union is a strong democratic/socialist force that commands significant economic activity and is building a zone of economic success in an attempt to rival that of the US; and (3) China, whose currency is pegged to that of other currencies in order to keep their exports affordable and cheap to foreigners. Thus, China's currency is important but because of the peg, its value wont fluctuate.

So when we hear arguably exaggerated stories that the Euro may be on its way to disintegration due to sovereign debt problems, you're left with a rising US dollar .... and a search for a second, reliable, substitute currency .... which may be Gold.

Gold has long been the safe haven during inflation or times of currency crises. Gold is a solid. A commodity that has intrinsic value because its a limited resource. Paper currency does not. But now gold is returning to the idea of being an actual form of commerce payment. Keep in mind that the US will have similar Euro-style sovereign debt issues in a few years if it doesn't get its 1.6 Trillion $ deficit under control.

So maybe its the pendulum swinging back towards old times. Maybe its a last resort. Or maybe its the most logical currency choice of all really. Either way, when it comes to money, you have the US Dollar and..... nothing else. So why not gold?