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Science

Your Precious Metals collection is more than an art, it’s a science. Learning more about the science behind Gold and Silver will you give insight to minting and production processes used to create the iconic pieces in your collection. 

Whether buying from the secondary market, receiving a gift or inheriting coins, you may not know if your silver is legitimate. Try these at home tests today.
Silver tarnishing, also known as toning, is very common but can impact the appearance and value of your silver items. Learn more about what causes it and how to prevent it.
Unlike paper currency and other types of investments, Precious Metals hold intrinsic value defined by their molecular makeup. The same Gold element listed on the periodic table as Au, atomic number 79, is the same Gold you’ll find in a 1 oz Gold American Eagle.

All Science Resources

What Industries Use Silver?

Silver's uses in commerce and investment are well known. But what other factors drive demand?

How Gold is Making Human Visits to Mars a Possibility

The Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization Experiment, also known as MOXIE, could help put humans on Mars.

What Is a Niobium Coin?

You hear about niobium all the time, but we do not necessarily know what it is or what uses it has. There is numismatic and

Solar Energy and Silver

Supply and demand is one of the main reasons why many Precious Metal buyers choose to invest in Silver. Learn about the demand behind

Precious Metals in the Medical Field

We often think of Precious Metals as something tangible we can hold as an investment or collection. While that is true, there are amounts of

Scientific Properties of Precious Metals

All metals have scientific properties that makes them unique to industries and to the earth. While there are many metals in existence today, Precious Metals

What is Silver?

Discover how the Silver periodic table placement clues into properties of the Ag element, or Silver symbol, as well as the melting point of Silver,

What are Pennies Made of?

What are Pennies made of? That is a common question for collectors. Due to their distinctive color and historical values, Pennies not only contain Copper

What are Quarters Made of?

We have a large collection of quarters, nickels, dimes and pennies. Here, you can find out answers to "what is a quarter made of", "what

What Are the Industrial Uses of Metals?

Precious Metals aren't just for jewelry and collecting. Find out the many industrial uses of these versatile metals!
Nuggets come in many shapes and sizes. They can be small, like a grain of sand; medium-sized, like a penny; or large, like an apple.

What is Gold?

The Gold symbol, the AU element, has unique properties that make it desirable. Learn how the Gold periodic table placement gives clues to these properties,

Growth of Self-Driving Electric Cars Affecting Metals Demand

Fuel cell self-driving cars generate electricity from a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, using Platinum or Palladium as a catalyst.

What is the Difference Between Precious Metals and Base Metals?

Many of us may remember our science class when we learned about Metals. There are many differences between Precious Metals and base Metals, which are

Innovative Technologies in Minting

Sunshine Minting, Royal Canadian Mint and others have utilized minting technologies to their advantage. These features enhance the security and the beauty of the coin.

What is the Minting Process?

As coin collectors or investors, we do not think about how the coin came to pass. In knowing where it came from or what the

Is Silver a Metal?

We answer the questions of is Silver a metal or not and sell high quality Silver such as the 5 oz APMEX Silver bar. Get

Where is Gold Mined?

Gold, atomic number 79, or AU is a naturally occurring element, existing in finite amounts around our Earth. Where is Gold Mined? Today, North America

Precious Metal Sizes Conversion Chart

Learn how to convert all measurements including how many grams in an ounce of Gold. How many grams a 100 oz Silver bar is or

Where is Platinum Mined?

The Platinum bullion value is high because of its scarcity and its use in industrial applications. Platinum is mined in very few places around the

Platinum from Asteroids: The Next Rush?

Asteroid mining is the idea that we could extract natural resources, such as Platinum and water, from nearby asteroids and use them here on Earth.
Silver’s uses in commerce and investment are well known. But what other factors drive demand?
The Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization Experiment, also known as MOXIE, could help put humans on Mars.
You hear about niobium all the time, but we do not necessarily know what it is or what uses it has. There is numismatic and
Supply and demand is one of the main reasons why many Precious Metal buyers choose to invest in Silver. Learn about the demand behind
We often think of Precious Metals as something tangible we can hold as an investment or collection. While that is true, there are amounts of
All metals have scientific properties that makes them unique to industries and to the earth. While there are many metals in existence today, Precious Metals
Discover how the Silver periodic table placement clues into properties of the Ag element, or Silver symbol, as well as the melting point of Silver,
What are Pennies made of? That is a common question for collectors. Due to their distinctive color and historical values, Pennies not only contain Copper
We have a large collection of quarters, nickels, dimes and pennies. Here, you can find out answers to “what is a quarter made of”, “what
Precious Metals aren’t just for jewelry and collecting. Find out the many industrial uses of these versatile metals!
Nuggets come in many shapes and sizes. They can be small, like a grain of sand; medium-sized, like a penny; or large, like an apple.
The Gold symbol, the AU element, has unique properties that make it desirable. Learn how the Gold periodic table placement gives clues to these properties,
Fuel cell self-driving cars generate electricity from a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, using Platinum or Palladium as a catalyst.
Many of us may remember our science class when we learned about Metals. There are many differences between Precious Metals and base Metals, which are
Sunshine Minting, Royal Canadian Mint and others have utilized minting technologies to their advantage. These features enhance the security and the beauty of the coin.
As coin collectors or investors, we do not think about how the coin came to pass. In knowing where it came from or what the
We answer the questions of is Silver a metal or not and sell high quality Silver such as the 5 oz APMEX Silver bar. Get
Gold, atomic number 79, or AU is a naturally occurring element, existing in finite amounts around our Earth. Where is Gold Mined? Today, North America
Learn how to convert all measurements including how many grams in an ounce of Gold. How many grams a 100 oz Silver bar is or
The Platinum bullion value is high because of its scarcity and its use in industrial applications. Platinum is mined in very few places around the
Asteroid mining is the idea that we could extract natural resources, such as Platinum and water, from nearby asteroids and use them here on Earth.

More Guides for You

What is Bullion?

Gold, Silver, Platinum, and Palladium all come in various forms and sizes to create a variety of options for investors and collectors.  

What is an Eagle?

Since the U.S. Mint’s American Eagle program began in 1986, Gold and Silver Eagles have remained a popular choice among both investors and collectors

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