Professor Jastram found that, over a period of more than 400 years, gold had proved an effective store of value and an ounce would usually buy a good, but not luxurious, outfit of clothes. Extreme pessimists may note that he added: "When the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse galloped, a stock of gold pieces, cunningly concealed or surreptitiously carried, has often meant the difference between living and dying."