why dragons really collect riches

[Jasriella]

I still don't see why a dragon would even want to hoard treasure. It serves us no purpose (at least my kind) and produces nothing but problems. Honestly, what would I have used it for? All that I needed to survive was my family and a full stomach. Personally I don't like shiny things all too much. I can't stand gold and I only wear one piece of jewelry, a silver dragon necklace that will be replaced by a tattoo when I can afford it.
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I am trapped between heaven and hell. My wings carry me upon the winds. Above lies heaven, below hell. Yet I must land in hell to soar in heaven. I am a Dragon!

[Hyraxylos]

Again, there was no "why" in many cases like mine. I'd find rocks on the ground. Some were sparkly. I wanted them. Since I didn't actually do anything with the quartzes I collected, I don't think there was anything beneficial about doing it.
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[MetatronofRavensWings]

I've read that dragons collect riches for the same reason a human might collect action figures or rocks: It's just another hobby.
And the scales? This is just an assumption, but perhaps a dragon's scales harden as they grow older, like a callus on human skin. (But like a thousand times harder )
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A wise man once said, "I think, therefore I am," but how can he be so sure of his existence through his own skepticism?

[Jasriella]

And I've found out that the theory of a dragon injesting metals for their scales, treasure in particular, actually comes from E.E.Knight's Age of Fire series. And I can't comprehend how any living being's stomach could digest sold metal.
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I am trapped between heaven and hell. My wings carry me upon the winds. Above lies heaven, below hell. Yet I must land in hell to soar in heaven. I am a Dragon!

[DarkDragon]

I think that theory is much older than E.E. knights books, seeing as they were only first published in 2005, and the idea has been around much longer than that. I remember reading older tales that involved Dragons eating treasure and exuding the metals on their scaled hides, part of the reason dragon scale was considered a legendary treasure.

In any case, the idea of dragons eating treasure is widespread, being mentioned in the 2003 D&D Draconomicon game supplement, where it states that dragons can eat almost anything, dispite being primarily carnivorous. In that case, Dragons were the ultimate omnivore.

And that is very possible to digest solid metal, as Michel Lotito of France proved. He could devour metals from cars, cans, and even ate an entire Cessna airplane (Took him some time, though.) Doctors concluded that at least part of what he consumes is broken down by unusually powerful digestive juices. Specialists have also found that the linings of his stomach and intestines are twice as thick as average. As a result, while he can eat metal and other apparently indigestible objects, though soft foods tended to upset him.
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-An Irish toast

[Shaprite]

I'm not sure about actually eat riches but I heard they sleep on them like a bed. Or just wanted the wealth because there greedy.
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[Tealeon]

I'm sure it's been said, but a reference I found was similar to dark's, just not the eating. But they sleep on the piles and eventually they set into the underbelly scales, creating a gem/coin like armor. Another one is that, like chinchillas, can use the gems/gold to sleep on a cool surface.
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"Don't mind the tail, he has a mind of his own..."