Frequently, the government prohibits the private ownership of gold, at least until the political control of money has been fully consolidated. By this means individuals are deterred from using gold for transactions instead of the government's money. Because such transactions are already barred by legal tender laws, this measure is not absolutely necessary, but it may still be useful to the ends of those in power. In the United States, gold ownership, except for industrial and decorative purposes, was illegal during much of the twentieth century.

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