Its value has gone up in most currencies in most time frames. People don't buy gold to buy groceries, to eat it, or to use it as a tool. They buy it so that 20

Its value has gone up in most currencies in most time frames. People don't buy gold to buy groceries, to eat it, or to use it as a tool. They buy it so that 20 or 30 years later it has roughly kept its value, i.e. it has performed much better than holding currency. Buying land requires maintenance, and probably comes with some ongoing tax implications.