Notice: Due to scheduled maintenance, mint.ca will be unavailable on May 15, 2025 from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. ET.
Understanding the different types and categories of precious metals, along with the technical terms associated with bullion, will help you navigate the world of gold, silver, and platinum.
Gold is all around us. Used in jewellery, technology and as an investment, the demand and different uses for gold are abundant. Discover the special role gold plays in today’s world.
Silver is one of the scarcest, most essential and most valuable metals in the world. The industrial usages for silver are rich, driving its demand and appeal as an investment. Silver is precious and here’s why.
Thirty times rarer than gold, platinum is prized in industry and jewellery for its unique properties and is emerging as an important metal of the future. Along with its diverse applications, investment demand for platinum is growing and here’s why.
Precious metals are made available in several different ways, each offering unique opportunities for investors and collectors alike.
Coins
Coins are the most convenient way to buy and sell precious metals. Our coins are legal tender and come in many sizes, ranging from one twentieth of a troy ounce (t oz.) to multiple ounces of pure precious metal.
Bars
Bars, like coins, can be purchased in a variety of sizes, usually up to one kilogram (32.15 t oz.) in weight. Some are even larger—as much as 400 t oz.—but these are traded mostly by central banks and institutional investors. Unlike coins, bars are not considered legal tender.
Bullion
Bullion coins are made of pure precious metal in undetermined numbers. They are tangible physical assets made for investment and are highly liquid, traded on commodity markets across the globe.
Numismatic
Numismatic coins are designed specifically for collectors. They usually contain precious metal, but their real appeal is in their elaborate designs, innovative features, craftsmanship, plating, finishes and other elements.
The world of gold, silver and platinum is fascinating but can also be difficult to understand … especially if you are new to investing in precious metals. To help you navigate, we have defined here some of the most common terms used in the industry.