Gold Price History · Bretton Woods
1961 in context · real value, 1941–1981
In 1961, gold averaged $35 an ounce — about $378 in today's money. That was down 0.4% on the year in nominal terms (−1.4% after inflation). Under the Bretton Woods system the price was fixed by treaty at $35 an ounce, so the nominal figure held steady — but inflation quietly eroded gold’s real value year after year.
To see 1961 in the full sweep of the gold price, explore the 768-year ribbon, or find out what a 1961 gold investment would be worth today on the gold calculator.
Run the numbers across gold, stocks, housing, and bonds — adjusted for inflation.
Calculate 1961 →Value at year-end of $10,000 invested on 1 January 1961.
Annual-average basis. Gold: Officer & Williamson; S&P 500 & Treasuries: Damodaran (NYU); housing: Shiller; CPI: BLS. Methodology →
Sources. Gold price: Officer & Williamson, The Price of Gold, 1257–Present (annual average); inflation adjustment by US CPI (BLS / Officer & Williamson). Asset comparison from the calculator dataset. Figures are annual averages. Full methodology →