Why Is Platinum Worth Less Than Gold?

Platinum derives from "Plat" - Silver and "inum" - which doesn't melt.

The very high melting point and hardness makes it tricky yo work with.

The spike before when it overtook gold was with the introduction of catalytic convertors which use platinum. Our roads are now covered in the stuff to the extent it might be worth recovering it.

I think most people have it backwards. I've been doing this since 65. You are right, historically Platinum is more expensive than Gold.

The difference is that platinum is not seen as an INVESTMENT metal.

Nine years ago the world went stupid crazy melting anything that had a hint of gold or silver in it. My shop had a courier from the refiner that came up twice a week to pick up metal to be melted.

People were trained to think that the "real" price of silver and gold were many multiples of what they had been just two years before. A lot of people became very very wealthy in this time frame. Even ordinary folks found themselves richer by thousands of dollars; in many cases.

Coincidnental with this were the rise of the "Invest in Gold/Silver" Companies.

Together they drove the price of Silver and gold far above where it actually should be.

When the price fell, the smart money got out and collected their profits. A great many people felt like they missed the boat and they want, very badly, to be "here" when it goes up again. They entered the market in great numbers and those same people are responsible for the continued increase in price over where true demand is. It is a fact, if you dig, that there is a large surplus of both Gold and, especially, Silver; right now. I'm an Engineer, and I can tell you that materials suppliers that I deal with are scratching their heads over the prices of Gold, Silver, and Platinum. There are currently wherehoused at least a seven year supply of Silver.

The smart money saw that the small investors were hanging in there and now quietly manipulate the market to make a cozy profit. Why do you think the price, ON A REGULAR BASIS, drops down a dollar or more an once in silver ( for instance) and then goes back up to the same level only to drop again? The big boys KNOW when to sell short and when to go long. It is steady income, and will remain so until enough small investors get out of the market.

At which point Silver and Gold will find their true market value via supply and demand.

Exactly why I will not play that game.

To me investing in silver or gold is a long term thing with very quick ultra bull markets about every ten-twenty years and then you must sell and sell fast. I am thinking of 1980 and 2011.

Unobtanium is another of those recently discovered rare metals, and it's extremely high price makes it quite difficult for most of us to include even a tiny amount in a small collection of sample bullion coins.

Platinum is closing in on 1000.00 ( as it should be )
At around 970.00 as I type.
I hope it does as that is kind of a hump. If it makes it over, it seems to be more difficult for it to go back under. Just an observation. And Palladium which I have no concept or holdings of, is moving along at a good pace.
Proportionately high when compared to the usual ratio to gold and platinum.
For funzies ...Let's just see if I can predict something right, just once,
Predict: Platinum will cross over 1000.00 by this time next week.
Do not go by prediction, I am usually wrong. 95% of the time dead wrong.

Platinum did hit 1000 and go over and is 1000 today at current 24 hr level presently.
I am amazed that I was right but just a few days late on when it would go over.
I am usually wrong about these things.

White gold is an alloy of gold and at least one white metal, usually nickel, manganese or palladium.