What is special about gold? Or a particular technique like sculpt-noveau, or your sandblasting methods? They want a sign, they get a GREAT one. Using leaf gilding just keeps it glistening in the sun.
Let your competitors add a "gold charge" if they want. You just sell them signs that keep them coming back for another one.
Any irrational fear or overvaluing of any metal is not called for. Same thing with lead as gold. We have been told to fear one metal and prize another. We may have used lead too freely, but its still a very useful metal.
If you used lead somewhere in the sign, I wouldn't point that out either.
Although on second thought.. someone may eat the sign and sue you! So put a sign on the sign saying the sign contains no lead, and is safe to eat. Then put a sign on the sign on the sign saying the warning sign is also safe to eat. Repeat.
D
"The best thing about building something new is either you succeed or learn something. Its a win-win situation."
--Greg Westbrook