Pound vs Gold since 2001
-9% × 1,449%
Updated July 2026 · BLS / FRED · daily closing prices (not exportable)
Since 2001, Pound is down 9% against the dollar and Gold is 1,449% in dollars. Gold held up better. Held as cash, Pound earns no interest, so that line is the exchange rate, not a return.
Base 100 since 2001
Why compare British Pound and Gold (XAU/USD)
The pound carries centuries of history as a reserve currency, and gold has millennia as a store of value, so this pairing measures two old symbols of solidity. The difference in nature is the whole point. The pound is an exchange rate held as cash it earns no interest, so its line is only the dollar move, not a yield. Gold is a real asset with its own price, also paying no interest, but with a long reputation for outlasting currencies and crises. Historically the two behave like different animals: the pound is a former anchor slowly ceding ground to the dollar, while gold tends to shine when markets break. This page tracks which held its value better, and when the metal charged dearly for that insurance.
Returns by window
| Window | British Pound | Gold (XAU/USD) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 1% | 25% |
| 5 years | -3% | 127% |
| 10 years | 1% | 205% |
| since 2001 | -9% | 1,449% |
The price of return: risk
| Asset | Annual volatility | Worst drop |
|---|---|---|
| Pound | 9% | -46% |
| Gold | 17% | -42% |
$10,000 in each, since 2001
| Asset | Value today |
|---|---|
| Pound | $9,132 |
| Gold | $154,944 |
Frequently asked questions
Pound 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.
Keep exploring
Descriptive, educational content computed from official public data. Not investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results.