From Empire to XR, Explore The New Frontier of Gold and Innovation!

TOPIC: Minting Innovation- The Story of Money with MAVERiC Studio

UC San Diego's Office of Innovation and Commercialization invites you to join our upcoming Innovation at the Edge speaker series on December 4, 2025. 

This month MAVERiC Studio presents an in-depth, interactive session that explores the evolution of gold from the imperial die to extended reality.

Gold has defined value for more than 5,000 years, shaping civilizations, economies, and trust itself. In this special edition of Innovation at the Edge, Dr. Edward J. Watts, Alkiviadis Vassiliadis Endowed Chair in Byzantine Greek History at UC San Diego, and Jon Cavuoto, founder of First National Bullion & Coin (San Diego), explore how humanity’s faith in gold has evolved from ancient empires to modern markets. Learn how gold coinage helped define an empire and innovation. Gain contemporary insights and hands-on demonstrations from the heart of Southern California’s bullion community.

Joining remotely, Dr. Adam Trexler, founder and president of Valaurum Inc., provides a rare look inside his nanotechnology-driven mint, where gold is transformed into flexible, verifiable Aurum® bills. Together, the discussion bridges history, craftsmanship, and cutting-edge technology to show how gold continues to anchor trust in an age of digital value.

Don't miss out on being part of this exciting dialogue. Uncover how San Diego is leading the way. Let us shape tomorrow's innovation.

Thursday, December 4, 2025
4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Design & Innovation Building, Room 208