Platinum

Properties

• •Chemical symbol Pt, atomic number 78
• •Denser than gold and highly resistant to corrosion and wear
• •One of the rarest metals in Earth's crust, with most supply from South Africa and Russia
• •High melting point paired with strong catalytic properties

Uses

Platinum's primary demand driver is catalytic converters, where it reduces harmful emissions in gasoline and diesel vehicles. It is also used in jewelry, laboratory equipment, and increasingly in hydrogen fuel cell technology.

Why investors hold it

Platinum can trade at a discount or premium to gold depending on industrial demand and mine supply, which is heavily concentrated in a handful of countries. Investors add it for diversification, though its price tends to track industrial and automotive cycles more closely than gold's.

Common bullion forms

• •Coins (American Platinum Eagle, Canadian Platinum Maple Leaf, and others)
• •Bars from 1 ounce up to 10 ounce
• •Rounds from private mints