Early 1933 is a troublesome time for the United States. Many people are going hungry and struggling to make ends meet. The O'Brien family huddles around a wood burning stove in the basement of a New York City apartment building. Patrick the oldest son clutches their only remaining wealth, a small $5 gold coin. President Roosevelt's voice crackles over the radio in the corner, he announces that the Gold Reserve Act has been passed into Law and that the United States is officially off the gold standard. The people are ordered to turn in all their gold in exchange for paper money. 

Would today's struggling economy benefit from going back on the gold standard? Would gold bearing countries like South Africa become enormously wealthy overnight?

Nobody knows… nor will they ever find out.