Australian Dollar vs Gold since 2001
28% × 1,449%
Updated July 2026 · BLS / FRED · daily closing prices (not exportable)
Since 2001, Australian Dollar is up 28% against the dollar and Gold is 1,449% in dollars. Gold held up better. Held as cash, Australian Dollar earns no interest, so that line is the exchange rate, not a return.
Base 100 since 2001
Why compare Australian Dollar and Gold (XAU/USD)
This pairing usually interests anyone thinking about protection tied to natural resources: the Australian dollar is a commodity currency, and gold is the world's oldest store of value. Both tend to do well when raw-material prices run hot, but along very different paths. The Aussie is an exchange rate held as cash it earns no interest, so its line is only the move against the dollar, tracking Chinese demand and the commodity cycle. Gold is a real asset that can genuinely appreciate, though it pays no interest either. The durable pattern is clear: gold tends to shine in crises and hold its value across decades, while the Aussie swings with the appetite for risk. The honest note is that the currency does not yield it moves; gold is the one that can return.
Returns by window
| Window | Australian Dollar | Gold (XAU/USD) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 9% | 25% |
| 5 years | -4% | 127% |
| 10 years | -8% | 205% |
| since 2001 | 28% | 1,449% |
The price of return: risk
| Asset | Annual volatility | Worst drop |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Dollar | 12% | -44% |
| Gold | 17% | -42% |
$10,000 in each, since 2001
| Asset | Value today |
|---|---|
| Australian Dollar | $12,766 |
| Gold | $154,944 |
Frequently asked questions
Australian Dollar or Gold: which held up better?
Since 2001, Gold is ahead in dollar terms. But a currency held as cash earns no interest, so its figure is the move against the U.S. dollar, not a return.
Is a currency line a return?
No. Holding cash in any currency earns no interest by itself, so the line is only the exchange-rate move against the dollar. A real asset (gold, an index) carries a return — that contrast is the point of this page.
Does the bigger move mean the better holding?
Not on its own — yield and risk matter, and this is not investment advice. The page shows the dollar move and the largest drop; for cash, also weigh the interest you could earn elsewhere.
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Descriptive, educational content computed from official public data. Not investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results.