For first-time investors, the best precious metals to consider buying are gold, silver, and platinum. These metals have a long history as stores of value and are easier to acquire and sell than other precious metals. Here's why these metals should be among your first investments if you are just starting out as an investor.

The platinum family metals, also known as the platinum group metals (PGMs), are a group of six elements that share similar chemical properties. These metals are highly valuable and have various industrial applications, making them attractive for investment purposes. 

The six platinum family metals are:

Gold and silver can be found in many homes. The question is, where? 

Just to be sure you’re not missing any stocks of precious metal scrap that could be right under your nose, here’s a checklist for you to keep handy.

Antiques and decorative Items -  Older or antique items in the household, such as antique silverware, decorative items, or collectibles, might have significant amounts of silver.

An Astonishing Find of 700 Coins Buried in a Kentucky Field Makes You Wonder . . . Is There Even More to Be Found?

A man in Kentucky recently made one of the most important and valuable discoveries of buried treasure ever. It happened in a farmer’s field, where he dug up more than 700 Civil War-era gold coins with an estimated value of well more than $1 million. 

There are low-risk investments you can make in precious metals and precious metal scrap. For example, you walk into an antiques mall and buy a pair of old cufflinks for $50.00. You’re not sure whether they are made of 14K gold, 18K gold, or are just gold-plated. But you put your money on the counter and plan to learn more about the cufflinks later. After all, they cost you just a small amount of money. And if you turn out to double or triple your investment, then you’ll be happy. 

Which precious metals make the best short-term investments? And which are best if you are investing in metals and metal scrap you plan to hold for years before liquidating them?

Those are two interesting questions. And here’s an interesting fact to consider. Some metals are excellent investments whether sold quickly or held long-term.

Precious Metals that Make Profitable Short-Term Investments

If you need a little motivation to get out there to hunt for precious metal scrap and treasure, we have some books for you to read. 

Treasure hunting has captured the imagination of readers for centuries, and there are a lot of notable books that delve into this thrilling and adventurous subject. 

If you could use a little motivation to get up, get out, and look for gold and other scrap, here are some of the greatest motivational books on treasure hunting ever written:

Is platinum toxic?

In its pure form, platinum is inert and does not react with most chemicals or substances, including acids and bases. This property makes it highly resistant to corrosion and tarnish. Consequently, platinum is often used in medical and dental implants, such as pacemakers, stents, and dental crowns, due to its biocompatibility and resistance to corrosion.

When you go hunting for platinum scrap, chances are you are expecting to find scrap that is made of bright, white, shiny metal. And you’re right to be expecting that. After all, that is what platinum looks like.

But if you think that way, you are overlooking the fact that valuable platinum scrap is not always made of pure platinum. In fact, the scrap you are looking for will often be made of an alloy comprised of platinum and other metals. Those alloys might not be bright, white, and shiny. But make no mistake about it, those platinum alloys are well worth recycling. 

You find an old painting in an antique shop and notice that gold seems to be part of it. The gold could be gold leaf that has been applied to the painting itself, or to the frame.

But how much gold is there, and is it worth buying that painting in the hopes that you can reclaim and recycle it for a lot of money?

It could be, but here are some things to think about before you buy that painting, hoping to make a nice profit from your investment.

We have written on this blog that gold can be reclaimed from electronic devices such as computers, computer tablets, smartphones, and even remote controls that came bundled with televisions and other devices commonly found in the home. It seems that gold is waiting to be reclaimed in almost any kind of electronic device you find. 

Platinum Scrap Wisdom  . . . 

Investing Lessons from the Most Valuable Pieces of Platinum Jewelry in History

Old telescopes often feature various components made of gold and silver. Here are some common uses of these metals in vintage telescopes.

If you are on the lookout for platinum – and you should be because, at the time of writing this post, the precious metal is currently trading for $1,334 per Troy Ounce – you should be looking for small items of jewelry that are made of the metal. 

You can find several kinds of platinum jewelry at estate sales, junk shops, and even in the places where you store jewelry in your home. 

What kinds of small pieces of jewelry are most likely to be made of platinum? Some examples include: 

What are platinum group metals, where are they found and what are they used for?

Platinum group metals (PGMs) are a group of six metallic elements that belong to the platinum group on the periodic table. 

With platinum trading for $1,400/Troy Ounce today, it is well worth looking for it in unusual places. Even a small amount of certain kinds of scrap that will fit in a shoebox or in your pocket could bring you a much bigger profit than you expected.

Thermocouple wires are not like simple gold, silver, or platinum wire, because they contain a combination of valuable metals, as you will learn in today’s post. If you are a regular reader of our blog, you already know thermocouples are used where temperatures must be monitored or controlled remotely. 

Do you have gold, silver or platinum items that you would like to recycle?

If you do, chances are you are thinking of taking them to a precious metal refinery near you. You might also be thinking of calling us, Specialty Metals Smelters and Refiners at 800-426-2344, to speak with our precious metal experts. We firmly believe that speaking with us is your most important first step in the process of turning your precious metals into cash.

Most small companies are run by businessmen and businesswomen who are committed to doing business honestly. Even if you have a dispute with them or they have done something that strikes you as less than honorable, they are likely to try to “make things right.” After all, they want to maintain a good reputation and avoid getting negative reviews online.

It's important to note that the availability and accessibility of medical scrap can vary depending on factors such as local regulations, disposal practices, and the specific healthcare facilities in your area. Some used medical devices that were used on patients are true medical waste and must be properly disposed of. Other medical devices that were never used are easier acquire without violating the law.