With modern nuclear technology, it is quite possible to convert lead into gold. It's been done. Years ago.
HOWEVER, it was also understood that the cost per ounce of the resulting gold was orders of magnitude higher than the cost of gold obtained via lower-tech methods.
So there were no serious attempts to scale up the original process. Nor to improve it. Nor to develop "new and better" lead-to-gold conversion processes. Nor to otherwise squander vast sums and resources chasing the "but it IS possible..." dream of making real gold from mere lead.
HOWEVER, it was also understood that the cost per ounce of the resulting gold was orders of magnitude higher than the cost of gold obtained via lower-tech methods.
So there were no serious attempts to scale up the original process. Nor to improve it. Nor to develop "new and better" lead-to-gold conversion processes. Nor to otherwise squander vast sums and resources chasing the "but it IS possible..." dream of making real gold from mere lead.