Gold didn't work very well as a currency. There is plenty of proof, but just look at the first graph in this article. http://fabiusmaximus.com/2010/09/13/21514/ Industrial production and when a country left the gold standard. Obviously clinging to the gold standard for so long was a huge mistake.

(my point is purely related to that one graph, not the rest of the article (that I have not read))