No country leader to my knowledge other than Vladimir Putin posed with a gold bar in his hand. It was clearly intended to send a message to the world. Official pictures of the top country leader are always used for sending a message to the people and the world irrespective of the type of political system existing in the country. Then-Prime Minister Putin became the first Russian leader to visit the Gokhran complex in Moscow in January 2011 where Russia keeps about two-thirds of its gold stockpile. It was soon after the 2008 financial crisis and before the G7 imposed sanctions on Russia in 2011.

Gold has become through history a symbol of power but in modern history I know of no leader making such an effort to promote gold. Russia contrary to China made no effort to push the population to buy gold but it has been buying large amounts of gold for its official reserves.