Henk,
I took another look at the column.? Is it gold all the way around?? It looks so smooth and even, I find it hard to believe the sunlight reached all the way around the column and underneath the lip (can't see...) producing such an even (nice?) finish.? Maybe it's just exposure to the environment, e.g.? hot and cold temperatures?? Regardless, I have never see such an profound and even color change.
Bob