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Gold, Silver and Platinum have historically been valued for their beauty and rarity.
They are the precious metals.
Platinum usually costs slightly more than gold, and both metals are about 80
times more costly than silver. Precious metal
weights are given in Troy ounces (named for Troyes, France, known for
its fairs during the Middle Ages) a unit approximately 10% larger than 1
oz (28.35 g).
The ancients considered gold and silver to be of noble birth compared
to the more abundant metals. Chemists have retained the term noble to
indicate the resistance these metals have to corrosion,
and their natural reluctance to combine with other elements. Because of their rarity and unique properties, the demand for gold and
platinum are expected to continue to increase. Silver is more closely
tied to industry, and the demand for silver is expected to rise and fall
with economic conditions.
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