Gold struck a record high on Friday, and silver hit $40 an ounce for the first time since 1980, as a weaker dollar and concerns about inflation sent investors piling into precious metals. Spot gold rose as high as $1,466.40 an ounce, on track for a gain of 1 percent this week. Spot silver, seen as a cheaper alternative to gold, hit an intraday high of $40 an ounce, and is set to rise 6 percent this week.