Red surface colorations on ancient Egyptian gold artifacts are mentioned frequently in the literature but raise a number of unanswered questions. A problem inherent to the study of these phenomena has been the subjective nature of color description and the lack of precise documentation of the objects involved. The presence of a small amount of iron in subsequently heated gold is the most oftenrepeated explanation of what is believed to be intentionally produced red gold, particularly in the case of sequins as well as larger gold objects from the tomb of Tutankhamun. Explanations for fortuitous red surfaces included copper and iron corrosion products, various optical effects, and organic accretions. Recent investigations at the Objects Conservation Department of the Metropolitan Museum of Art have identified several inorganic red surface films. The most typical is a crystalline silver gold sullide (AgAuS) not known to have been found in nature. This substance and a second silver gold sulfide (Ag₃AuS₂-a recently reported mineral) were identified with x-ray diffraction, x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, and wet chemistry. Other investigations include the manufacture of modern AgAuS surface films on various gold/silver alioys at different temperatures. These films appear visually identical to Egyptian samples and have the same AgAuS/Ag₃AuS₂ diffraction patterns. Also undertaken were repetitions of the experiments with gold and iron carried out by R.W. Wood in the 1930's.