h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Didn't it once have an electrum (gold/silver alloy) top, or is that just one of the legends?

I thought that was Terry Pratchett, myself!

I'll have to look into that.

The capstones of pyramids, known as pyramidions, were made from stone, but inscriptions suggest that some of them may have been covered with gold or electrum, making them eminently stealable. No such plated capstones have ever been found.

Interesting, thanks.

The electrum top may or may not have any truth to it, but it does have two interesting real world consequences.

The Washington Monument in Washington DC of the US of A is an obelisk which is like a very etiolated pyramid. It has an aluminum top. It was made back when the process for getting aluminum from its ore efficiently was not known, and so it was excessively costly. (the luxury liner Queen Mary, now berthed in Long Beach CA, deliberately has many plastic and aluminum appurtenances in its most posh sections) The fact that it was a new element unknown to the ancients, and not old fashioned electrum, also made it very 'new order'.

The pyramid on the obverse of the Unitedstatian (paper) one dollar has a separate top, with an eye in it. I am thinking that Ordo Novo is also printed nearby.

To clarify Gnomon's earlier comment - no plated capstones have ever been found, but the National Archaeological Museum (the 'Cairo Museum') has an excellent collection of unplated capstones.

Gif