Okay, it’s more of a vending machine than an ATM, but if you don’t like paper currency, this machine is for you:
Abu Dhabi’s Emirates Palace Hotel became the first place outside Germany to install “gold to go, the world’s first gold vending machine,” said a statement from Ex Oriente Lux AG, the German company behind the vending machine.
“In addition to one-gram, five-gram and 10-gram bars of gold, the machine also dispenses gold coins,” it added.
Not only does the machine dispense gold, it’s also gold-plated. But that doesn’t mean it’s low-tech: it constantly monitors the gold markets and adjusts its prices accordingly.
But don’t expect to see one on your street corner anytime soon. The Emirates Palace Hotel is not your normal business location:
The Emirates Palace is often used by visiting foreign dignitaries, and its top floor is reserved for the rulers of the UAE federation’s seven emirates, each of whom has his own suite.
High-end, indeed.
The machines were first installed in some German airports last year.
And talk about security:
“The Gold To Go vending machine will fulfill the same safety standard as an ATM,” said Uwe Heusel, owner of WBA Heusel GmbH. His company used armoring made of special steel, Kevlar and various ceramic materials to harden the vending machine against vandalism or even explosive blasts.
