What is the difference between palladium and silver

There are a few different ways to include silver in your investment portfolio. Investing in bullion coins is the most popular way to invest in silver. You can buy quantities of the precious metal outright and sell it at any time. Silver is commonly found in the form of bars, ingots, or rounds. Aside from silver bullion and coins, some people also invest in paper silver, available in the form of certificates and ETFs.

As a popular commodity, silver trades 24 hours across worldwide exchanges. When it comes to price, it continually changes. Although there are periods in which the prices slowly fluctuate, sometimes the prices may change rapidly. The current price for one troy ounce of. Like silver, platinum is also traded on global markets.

In terms of price, it tends to sell for a higher rate than silver during political stability because it is rare and has unique features. An incredibly dense precious metal, platinum is resistant to scratches. Therefore, platinum coins shine brighter than any other precious metal in the industry. They feature an exceptional glow that can withstand wear and tear over time. Platinum coins have unique patterns and designs and will keep their details longer than silver or palladium coins.

Platinum is considered an industrial metal, and demand for it comes from automotive catalysts used to decrease harmful emissions.

It is also used in electronic devices and oxygen sensors, which require a corrosion-resistant and hard metal. Recently, platinum has become popular as a bullion investment product, especially in the form of platinum rounds and bars. Investors choose it because it has:. There is speculation that platinum exists in abundance on other planets and the moon.

While the platinum price is more unstable than silver and palladium, it has grown five-fold over the last couple of years. Palladium is similar to platinum and shares many features, but is darker in color. Palladium is a precious hard metal that resists corrosion.

Compared to platinum, it is more abundant in nature, and it is one of the most durable elements. In terms of weight, palladium is lighter than platinum. Palladium is mostly used in the automotive industry for gas-powered engines. The first step to telling what material a coin is made out of is to look at the date and type of the coin.

Almost all older coins that have a white-gray appearance contain at least some silver. Identifying the general type of coin and the year it was minted can help narrow the decision-making process considerably. Next, look for any signs of tarnish. Tarnishing is slightly different from simple wear and tear or other imperfections.

All sorts of coins can have imperfections. For tarnish specifically, make sure to clean the coin first and remove any surface impurities like dust. If the cleaned coin still has a dark or dull color, the coin is likely nit platinum or palladium. Platinum is resistant to the decay of patina and is hard enough to withstand scratches from almost any other metal or material. Finally, you can calculate weight and density to tell the difference between the three metals. A platinum coin will be the most dense and heaviest.

Telling apart silver, platinum, and palladium in a coin can be a difficult endeavor. They are all brilliant and beautiful metals that have similar characteristics. Without tarnish or an old date, it may be difficult to tell the precious metals apart.

Subscribe to our newsletter to receive exclusive discounts and industry news. Show Charts. Hide Charts. Edit Cart. Create an Account. Already Have An Account? Log In. Remember Me Forgot Password? Check Order Status. This results in the demand from the auto industry often directly correlating with the global demand for platinum. As mentioned, the price of platinum is much higher than the price of silver — and it has been for some time. The price of platinum experienced a sharp decrease at the beginning of the COVID pandemic, but has since returned close to its five-year high — making a great time to turn your platinum items into cash.

Palladium is very similar to platinum but is a bit darker in color and weighs about half as much — which is typically considered the most discernable difference between the two. There are many palladium pieces in existence today, but perhaps its most popular use in jewelry is in combination with gold and other metals to create the highly sought-after white gold.

Also like platinum, it is used in the automotive industry for gas-powered engines and experiences some correlating shifts in demand, as well. The price of palladium is much higher than that of both silver and platinum and has been increasing at a steady rate over the past five years. While silver can be known by its visible flaws, platinum by its brightness and durability, and palladium by its brightness and lightweight, it can still be difficult to effectively discern between the two — and it can be even more difficult to sell items made from these metals for a good price.

We specialize in helping you sell your items made from silver, platinum, palladium, and other precious metals, ensuring the entire process is easy along the way.

With spot prices for these metals higher now than they have been in years, it is a great time to sell.