When I was business traveling all over the world China -- Pacific Rim, Japan, Europe -- Besides cash, I always wore a heavy gold necklace, gold wrist bracelet on one side and a Rolex watch on the other, and carried two Krugerrands in my wallet.
From Alaska to South Africa and everything in between: Gold is, and always will be: money.
Actually, I tend to do the opposite. To dress down, to blend in with the locals. It was a practice I adopted without thought on it, in my early wanderings - I was as poor as anyone. Then, in the Navv, in various Safety Briefings before foreign ports-of-call, we were cautioned to not advertise with jewelry, etc. Some places, a hat was advised, not to show the military haircut. But in NO way, wear an expensive watch - even a cheap one. Put it in the pocket. Old boondockers or busted-up running shoes.
Later, starting out on a good-paying job, I was broke and living in wino-and-hoodrat country. But wearing worn tee-shirts, etc...even though I was white where that was unfashionable, I got left alone. St. Herman's House of Hospitality was about eight blocks away - all the bruddahs just figured I was one more homeless wino.
Of course, you and I would have traveled in different circles. My circles tended to be those of wet beer bottles...I could get away with dressing down.
Gold is money. Do not advertise that you have money. I'd feel better with a k-rand tucked into my sock, than wearing Pimp Bros' gold chains, waiting to be snatched off - me dead or alive, they care nothing.
To the original post: Gold vending machines are interesting, but only in passing. It would make no more sense to me than a stock-vending machine. When I want gold, I want to buy it deliberately - my dealer happily tests each item in front of me, to keep things on the level.
