The article mentions gold coins and gold statues encrusted with gems, and that they're estimating the value by weight only. Since the encrusted gems can't be we

The article mentions gold coins and gold statues encrusted with gems, and that they're estimating the value by weight only. Since the encrusted gems can't be weighed separately, and furthermore the value of a precious stone strongly depends on quality not just weight, the estimate can only be based on the weight of the precious metal, IMO.