Cheng co-founded The Deftones, a Sacramento, California, alternative metal band, in 1988.

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The United States outgrew it as early as 1810 or so, as dozens and then hundreds of commercial banks began issuing gold-linked paper banknotes as an alternative to metal coins.

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With prices now falling, the attraction of the metal as an alternative investment has waned.

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That gives traders another reason to sell gold, since they see the metal as an alternative to holding dollars.

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Other gold investors believe that continued weakness in the dollar will attract more gold investors like the central banks of China, Russia and India, who see the precious metal as an alternative to paper currency.

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Gold miners have been an alternative to holding physical gold, either via an ETF or through the physical metal.

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"Although the group's early years were more heavy-metal-based, they were one of the first bands to incorporate a more alternative and ethereal sound into their thunderous and visceral music, blazing a trail that newer bands continue to follow today, " Portnow said.

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The amount of lead in the enviroment has dropped massively since 1980, as the metal has been banned from petrol, paint, piping and almost all other uses where any alternative exists.

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The yellow metal is holding up better than most commodities due to its role as a safe haven and alternative currency, while platinum has been hit by worries about industrial demand from the auto sector in a slowing economy.

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