Precious metals.

I literature it is not uncommon to hear authors going on at length about gold. It is used shamelessly as an adjective to denote positive attributes, the golden features, the golden touch, a golden future, etc.

Not as much attention is paid (in my humble opinion) to steel. If anything, steel (when used as an adjective) denotes unpleasant if not negative attributes, a steely gaze, a heart of steel, a will of iron, etc.

This has always made me wonder.

Steel is by far the more useful of the two metals.

Aside from its application in modern electronics, gold is relatively useless. It is soft, malleable, doesn't take to heat treating, makes very poor tools, cannot be used as structural reinforcement, it lacks tensile strength, compressive strength and shear strength, and it will not hold an edge. Heavier than lead, and less useful.

By comparison steel is strong, flexible, adaptable but with a long memory, versatile, susceptible to heat treating, structurally stable, excellent for making long lasting tools, is abundant, can be magnetized, and (when it weakens and can no longer be used for its original purpose) can be continuously reborn.

Gold and steel, the two most precious metals.

Gold and lead, the currency of modern civilization.

Gold to pay the boatman.

Lead to pay the debts of life.

Steel to offer a chance at rebirth.