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When did gold rings begin to be used as payment?

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A diagram showing the periodic table entry for gold, with the symbol Au, atomic number 79, atomic weight 196.96657, electron configuration, and labels for its properties as a solid transition metal with a face-centered cubic crystal structure. — gold The precious metal gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au. Its square on the periodic table details some of its properties, including its atomic weight, atomic number, and crystal structure.

Gold rings began to be used as a method of payment by 3000 BCE. In ancient Egypt, gold rings served as a form of currency, a practice that also persisted in the Middle East, where they functioned for both adornment and trade. These rings were often used alongside gold and silver bars, from which segments could be cut to facilitate transactions.12