Deity - Best early game gold use

Archers and tiles, workers if I need them, library in a weak production city if I can afford it (if I can't afford it I probably won't settle a weak production city before building NC). Maybe a granary in a satellite city with the resources for it but in my experience early Archers are lifesavers and if there is salt near my capital I will probably buy it all. Workers can be stolen easily, usually.

I buy settlers and CS only.

CS investements pretty much allways pay off in medium run more as buildings/units