Gold: Why do we value it so much?

What makes gold so valuable? Why is it golden? And why does it make the best - and the worst - currency?

These are just some of the questions that Justin Rowlatt asks, as he explores a fabulous pre-Colombian gold exhibition at the British Museum with chemist Andrea Sella, and pays a visit to the Bank of England with monetary economist Paul de Grauwe.

He also speaks to the World Gold Council - based in London - and talks to one of the world's biggest manufacturers of mobile phones about how you can recover the gold in your handset.