These currencies we have, all of them are fiat ones, as I said are backed by zilch. Because of that infinite amounts can be created in an instant. The vast majority of it doesn't even exist as paper and coins but as digits on computer screens. You can't say that about art, land, property, precious metals, diesel cars, etc.

I wouldn't describe owning or buying gold as a bet but an insurance policy. It's been money for thousands of years, same for silver, because of its rarity. The pound and US dollar have lost 96% of their purchasing power in the past 100 years, most occurred since 1971 when the US closed its gold window as France demanded their debts be paid in it rather than paper. Of course, debts and inflation have shot up since then because the equilibrium with the money supply with the growth in goods and services has been skewed to such an extent that these major currencies dare not normalise interest rates as they've been in extend and pretend mode delaying the inevitable implosion since 2008 by piling up even higher debt piles.