The most prevalent reasons for choosing to buy precious metals from Apmex are the fact that they've been in operations since 1999, they boast a 7000+ product line, and their website is usable for ordering even if the market is closed.
Generally that would be a description of precious or semi-precious gems. Some ores containing precious metals may still be considered minerals and be expensive. In that case you would refer to them as "precious metal ore".
No, that would make cookers too expensive
You can buy silver bullion online from these top U.S. dealers: BOLD Precious Metals – Great prices, big selection, and fast shipping. SD Bullion – Trusted dealer with low prices and secure delivery. Silver Gold Bull – Huge inventory of silver and gold bullion. APMEX – Wide range of precious metals and collectible coins. JM Bullion – Reliable source for silver bars, coins, and rounds. Check Bullion Mentor to compare prices from top U.S. dealers and find the best deals.
As I don't live in Arizona, I can't really help you find a coin dealer there. However, the gold 50 peso coin contains 1.2057 troy ounces of gold and is worth about $1,690 in gold content alone at the time of writing. Beware of "cash 4 gold" style people who offer low. Rather, I would try to find a coin dealer of jewelry shop that deals in precious metals. Alternatively, sites such as the American Precious Metal Exchange (APMEX) will buy some coins and is currently offering $1,687.32 for gold 50 peso coins. However, I have not used APMEX and I would find out more information about them and their policies before I would sell to them.
Mercantilism was an economy theory that posited that the wealthiest nation, particularly in terms of precious metals, would be the most powerful. The demand of the precious metals by the developed countries was one of the causes of mercantilism.
Precious metals have always held their value, even in a flailing economy. Gold, Silver, Titanium, Platinum, and other precious metals will never zero out in price, as they are an actual physical asset.
Just as the name implies- precious metals are metals- things that conduct electricity, have luster, ductility and malleability- and are rare. Examples include gold, silver, platinum, palladium, etc. Precious minerals- just that- minerals- defined as naturally occurring, homogeneous inorganic solid substances having a definite chemical composition and characteristic crystalline structure, color, and hardness. To be precious, they also would be rare and sought after. Examples may include diamonds, rubies, emeralds, etc.
I have not personally used any of the cash-for-gold mail-ins. They could be legit, but I am wary of sending valuable gold products through the mail to an unknown source. Honestly, I think your best bet would be to check with reputable companies. If you have gold coins or bullion, I'd consider reliable precious metals dealers like APMEX. If you have jewelry, I would take it to a local dealer you trust.
Gold and Silver were some of the early "precious metals" to be isolated. They are relatively rare. Gold is relatively nonreactive and thus maintains a wonderful luster. It also has tremendous workability. Silver is somewhat similar, not as rare as gold, but has a nice luster, and good workability.Other metals such as Platinum and Palladium also are relative rare and non reactive.This would compare to copper which was probably initially isolated in the form of bronze, but later purified. Somewhat more common than the precious metals, and corrodes quickly. Iron and other metals were refined later in our history. It has great strength, but oxidizes quickly.The "Ancients" discovered the beauty and workability of gold and silver, and started using them for currency and jewelery.In recent times, gold and silver have been used in electronics due to their high workability and low resistance, and resistance to corrosion. Yet much of the value still is attributed to the value given by the ancients as "precious".
There are quite a few different precious metals that many people may never have heard of. The first four that generally come to everyone's mind are gold and silver, of course, and next are platinum and palladium. Some of the others are rhodium, beryllium, mercury, tellerium, and there are many more.
The precious metals being soft excepting platinum,would be eroded due to its exposure to physical wear and tare.
So-called "precious" metals are expensive for two reasons - 1, scarcity, and 2, utility. They're comparatively rare, and they're very useful. If they were rare, but nobody wanted or needed them, the real value would be far less - like a Kardashian. If they were very useful, but very plentiful, the value would be less as well, kinda like sand - which is silica which is used in glass, computer chips, etc etc.