Given They have had free energy tech since (at least!) the 1950's, and transmuted lead to gold in the 1970's, I can guess that, though They said the energy costs to make an ounce of gold would be about a million dollars...

I'm going to bet that with free energy, They have been transmuting all kinds of elements, from one to another.  And so...

The value of any element is, in reality, limited in difference from any other.

And that free energy makes accounting for Our energy quite pointless (We adding energy and getting quantified wealth units for it), the value of anything in terms of quantified wealth units is zero, and in terms of usefulness infinite.

But the psychopaths in control keep Us emotionally attached to the idea of quantified wealth tokens.  "Nothing would get done if We couldn't bribe...er...pay People for it."

In truth, if something is causing a problem because it isn't done, someOne will find a solution - either create automation to make sure it is done, or do it Themselves.

And if there are no problems being created by its not being done...  Then no problem.

Quantifying Wealth (article): @amaterasusolar/quantifying-wealth