What is Palladium?
Blade
Posts: 1,744 ✭
I receive a commodities market update on my pager throughout the day. The metals section includes spot prices for Palladium (closed yesterday at $253/oz). What is this metal used for? Has it ever been used in coins?
Tom
NOTE: No trees were killed in the sending of this message. However, a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced.
Type collector since 1981
Current focus 1855 date type set
NOTE: No trees were killed in the sending of this message. However, a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced.
Type collector since 1981
Current focus 1855 date type set
0
Comments
[Gr. Pallas, goddess of wisdom], metallic chemical element; symbol Pd; at. no. 46; at. wt. 106.42; m.p. 1,554°C; b.p. 2,970°C; sp. gr. 12.02 at 20°C; valence +2, +3, or +4. Palladium is a lustrous silver-white metal with a face-centered cubic crystalline structure. Directly above platinum, it is one of the platinum metals in group VIII of the periodic table. It is strongly resistant to corrosion in air and to the action of acids (except nitric acid) at ordinary temperatures. However, it is attacked by hot acids, and it dissolves in aqua regia. It forms many compounds, including oxides, chlorides, fluorides, sulfides, phosphides, and several complex salts. Palladium has a great ability to absorb hydrogen; when finely divided, one volume of palladium absorbs as many as 900 volumes of the gas. When heated, it allows hydrogen to diffuse rapidly through it; it is thus used to purify hydrogen gas. Palladium is found in nature with platinum minerals and in association with the nickel ores mined near Sudbury, Ont., Canada. Because of its corrosion resistance, a major use of palladium is in alloys used in low voltage electrical contacts. Palladium is used extensively in jewelry-making in certain alloys called “white gold.” It may be alloyed with platinum or substituted for it. It is used in watch bearings, springs, and balance wheels and also for mirrors in scientific instruments. For use in dentistry it is alloyed with silver, gold, and copper. In chemistry it is a catalyst in sulfuric acid manufacture and in hydrogenation processes. Like platinum, also used in the automotive industry for catalytic converters. Palladium salts are used in electroplating. Although palladium is not as abundant as platinum, it is less expensive. Palladium was discovered in 1803 by W. H. Wollaston.
Palladium coins do exist but they are recent and are mainly commemoratives and bullion coins.
Tom
http://www.gold-eagle.com/editorials_02/paulos031902.html
<< <i>trozau, can you give some examples of Palladium Coins? This is the only way I would invest in these metals for the long term, Nusmismatic value, these price swings can lead to some very rare coins! >>
Russia issued some Ballerina Palladium bullion coins (now discontinued)
Australia issued some Emu Pallladium bullion coins (now discontinued)
China issued a 1989 Panda Palladium bullion coin
A few other countries like France, Bermuda and some others (I can't remember) issued commemorative Palladium coins.
current palladium listings
recently completed palladium listings
<< <i>I already found some! SOLD! >>
Wow! You're fast!
By the way, Thanks, David
karlgoetzmedals.com
secessionistmedals.com
____________________________
RELLA
who boasts of twenty years experience in his craft
while in fact he has had only one year of experience...
twenty times.
So, in other words...It doesn't tone easily, and if it does, you can't dip it???