Gold leafing as a craft is over 5000 years old.  Craftsmen pounded sheets of gold just micrometers thin with wooden mallets.  It has been used to decorate art objects in ancient Egypt, works of art, state capitals, and perhaps the address marker in front of your home.

Etched granite is available with 23 karet gold or aluminum leaf.

The cap atop the Washington monument is a 5 pound pyramid of aluminum.  In 1885 when this was installed it was a new and rare metal.