Palladium presents a less costly investment alternative to platinum

Written by: Melana Yanos

Precious metal enthusiasts who have invested in platinum might also be interested in investing in palladium, platinum’s less-expensive cousin. The silvery-white metal palladium, like platinum, is a platinum group metal; discovered in 1803 by William Hyde Wollaston, it was named after the asteroid Pallas that had been discovered the year before. Although “palladium” references the Pallas Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, investors will need to determine for themselves if a palladium investment is a wise opportunity.

Palladium price swings: Palladium has a variety of uses. The oxidation-resistant metal is most commonly used in the manufacturing of car exhaust systems, and like platinum, reacts in a manner that combats pollutants. Palladium is also used as an alloy in jewelry, especially in the production of white gold. Palladium may increase in popularity among jewelers and jewelry buyers, as its prices tend to be much lower than that of platinum jewelry.

Another notable feature is palladium’s ability to soak up huge volumes of hydrogen, which has become a focus for cold fusion and fuel cell research, according to PalladiumDealer.com.

Although solid demand for palladium is apparent, palladium supply is much less predictable. Read Full NuWire Article

With the price of gold at record highs and the U.S. economy on the downslide, it’s no wonder that many investors are setting their sights on gold to hedge against the falling dollar. Many investors think gold bars are the most reliable and cost effective approach to buying gold, but gold coins offer benefits that bars do not because of their smaller denominations and viability as currency.

The first gold coins were made by King Croesus of Lydia in approximately 560 B.C. These coins were not pure gold, but were made from electrum, a natural alloy of silver and gold. When the process later became more refined, coins of pure gold and silver were created. The use of these coins spread to many civilizations, including the Greek and Roman Empires and, later, throughout European countries.

Gold coins typically cost slightly more than their gold content is worth, because a 4 to 8 percent premium is added for minting and distribution. However, coins may make up for this added cost because they are easier to sell and manage and are more widely collected than gold bars. While minted gold bars typically come in weights between 1/10 of an ounce and 20 ounces, coins range from 1/20 of an ounce to one ounce. Read Full Article