Have you seen rhodium plated coins recently and wondered what exactly rhodium was and where it fits in the scheme of more traditional metals like gold and silver? Keep reading to learn more!

Discovery of Rhodium

English chemist William Hyde Wollaston discovered rhodium in 1803. He made the discovery thanks to a tip from Hippolyte-Victor Collet-Descotils. Collet-Descotils surmised that the red color found in some platinum salts came from an unidentified metal. Wollaston removed the platinum and palladium ore through chemical reactions, resulting in a dark red powder. This substance was sodium rhodium chloride. Today, commercial rhodium is typically a nickel and copper byproduct.

Just 25 tons of rhodium are produced every year, just over 1% of the amount of gold produced. South Africa provides about 80% of that, with Russia accounting for another 8%. The metal is also found in river sands in the Americas and copper-nickel sulfide ores in Canada.

Chemical and Physical Properties of Rhodium

Chemically, rhodium falls into the category of noble metals, which do not react quickly to oxygen. It is among six platinum group metals, including platinum, palladium, osmium, iridium, and ruthenium. The metal is less dense than platinum and has a higher melting point. Rhodium shows no effects of water or air up to 600 degrees Celsius and has a melting point of 1,964 degrees Celsius. It has just one stable isotope that occurs naturally, Rh-103.

Rhodium is naturally a white metal, but black rhodium can be created by giving it an ink dye that binds to metal. Coins with black rhodium plating have become extremely popular among collectors in recent years. The plating gives the coins a sharp look and helps to protect them from corrosion.

Uses of Rhodium

Why is the price of rhodium so high, and what is its relationship to the economy writ large? To date, rhodium’s primary use has been in catalytic converters that clean emissions from motor vehicles. Sometimes used alone and other times with platinum and/or palladium, the metal reduces the amount of nitrogen oxide in the exhaust. This lesser amount of nitrogen oxide dramatically reduces air pollution, especially in cities. Therefore, the metal’s price collapsed in 2008, as the auto industry was hit hard by the crisis. The metal is also used to finish coins and jewelry, as well as searchlights and mirrors. Alloyed with platinum, it is also used in airplane turbine engines.

Recent studies have shown promising results for using rhodium in converting water and carbon dioxide into high energy fuels by using thermal energy from the sun. In this case, it is used as a catalyst in conjunction with cerium oxide. Scientists hope that this will create a new way of storing chemical energy.

Rhodium Plated Coins

The Royal Canadian Mint (RCM) has taken firmly to the rhodium plating trend. One of the most famous examples of this is with the 2020 Black Proof Incuse Silver Maple Leaf. This unique take on the popular series has a mintage of just 5,000 pieces, each of which was struck from 1 oz .9999 fine silver. The selective black plating brings out the maple leaf and Queen Elizabeth II designs by darkening the rest of the coin. The RCM also used selective black rhodium plating in its Nocturnal by Nature series. The plating created stunning contrasts against the silver moon while offering a look at four of the issuing country’s wild animals as they would be seen at night.

Due to the relatively high prices of the metal combined with the relative popularity of gold, silver, and other metals among collectors, rhodium coins tend to be low mintage and hard to find. Pieces plated in the unique metal, though, are much more readily available. These pieces are sure to stand out and draw the attention of collectors and non-collectors alike.

Sources MCM – Modern Coin Mart

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Kitco

Reuters

Mining Technology

Silver looks simple. It’s cheaper than gold. More industrial. Easier to buy and sell. But when people actually try to cash out, the tax bill tells a different story. Higher rates. Fewer loopholes. And rules that punish anyone who treats silver like a short-term trade. So how does it seem like wealthy investors exit silver without paying much tax — or sometimes any at all?

This video breaks down the quiet, legal strategies behind that illusion. Not myths. Not offshore schemes. Just long-term planning, timing, and decisions most people never think to make.

Animated Money is the ultimate animated finance channel that turns complex money topics into simple, visual stories. Learn how to build wealth, invest smarter, and protect your finances with clear, engaging explanations about saving, budgeting, inflation, and financial independence.

Protecting you is a top priority, and Xfinity has dedicated significant resources to keeping your account safe and secure. There are multiple layers of security that automatically detect and block hundreds of thousands of cyber events every second, and a team of security experts who work to protect you 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Your first line of protection is to enable two-step verification on your account. This extra step will help keep your account safe, even if someone gets your password. Once you enable two-step verification, we’ll text or email you a verification code before we allow an unrecognized device to sign in to your account.  Remember: Never share your verification code with anyone.

• Fake payment requests

• Deceptive emails, phone calls, and text messages

• Misleading websites

• Scammers often try to trick users into revealing personal information. 

• Phishing email or phishing text message

Report fraud

To report fraud, scams, or bad business practices, consumers should go to reportfraud.ftc.gov. You can also find more safety tips on the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Consumer Advice website.

Lastly, if you feel like you or someone you know has been the victim of phishing, spam, online fraud, phone scam, or another security issue related to an Xfinity account, report it to Service Policy Assurance to let Xfinity know about the abuse. You can also stay up to date on topics related to Internet security, including known Xfinity security alerts and top phishing scams at Cybersecurity Alerts.

For more detailed information follow the link below.

Source: Protecting yourself from fraud

If you forget passwords, misplace photos and fear that your accounts might be hacked, try these strategies to declutter your online life.  Geoff Williams has updated one of the past popular issues for the Hartford newsletter. 

Source: How to Declutter Your Digital Life | EXtra Mile | The Hartford

Many people have embraced the online world, and everything else that has come with it, from smartphones to social media, because it has made our lives faster and easier.

But are our lives really any simpler? If you’re like most people, your online life probably isn’t any cleaner or less cluttered than your offline life. So, if you often forget your passwords, misplace your photos, or fear that your accounts might be hacked, try these strategies. They may help you declutter your online, and your offline, life.

From the Money Metals News Service – Peter Krauth joins Mike Maharrey to explain why war-driven volatility hasn’t broken silver’s long-term bull case, citing debt, inflation, industrial demand, and structural deficits….

Silver’s Industrial Role Keeps Getting Bigger

Krauth emphasized that silver is no longer just a monetary metal story. It is increasingly an industrial metal as well. He said that about five years ago, silver demand was roughly 50% industrial, but last year, industrial demand accounted for about 67% of total silver demand. That shift, he argued, makes silver even more tightly connected to the real economy.

That can cut both ways. If economic growth slows, investors may worry that industrial silver consumption will soften. But Krauth argued that some war-related inflation effects could actually support silver demand in key sectors. He gave the example of energy. Higher oil and gasoline prices can push households and businesses to look more seriously at alternatives such as hybrids, EVs, and solar power.

He cited a BBC report on Octopus Energy, the largest utility energy provider in the U.K., which said demand for solar panels had jumped 50% in recent months. Since solar is the single largest industrial use of silver and accounts for about 20% of all silver demand, Krauth said this kind of shift can offset some cyclical weakness elsewhere.

Military Demand Could Be a Bigger Silver Driver Than Many Realize

Maharrey also raised the issue of rearmament. Beyond the current war itself, he noted that countries such as Germany, England, and France are ramping up defense spending as Europe adjusts to the possibility of less U.S. support. That matters because military hardware uses a lot of silver.

Krauth said one estimate suggests a Tomahawk missile contains about 150 grams of silver. Once that logic is extended across tanks, surveillance systems, radar, computers, laptops, and replacement electronics, the silver requirement begins to add up quickly.

He said some of the more reasonable estimates suggest military demand could account for around 5% of annual silver demand. That is not the dominant demand category, but it is far from trivial. In an era of expanding military budgets, Krauth sees that as another tailwind for silver.

The central message was that the short-term volatility in silver should not distract investors from the bigger forces at work. Krauth sees war, debt, refinancing pressure, fiscal weakness, industrial demand growth, military consumption, and ongoing structural deficits all reinforcing the long-term case for silver.

Read More – Source: War Headlines Shook Prices, but the Bigger Silver Story Is Still Intact

Tommy G. Thompson either got royally screwed by the system, or he has epic-level self-discipline….

This Mike Maharrey article for Money Metals, recounts the saga of treasure hunter Tommy Thompson, who was released after more than a decade in prison tied to missing gold coins recovered from the S.S. Central America shipwreck.

The story explores whether his case is a “comedy” (if he secretly retained valuable coins) or a “tragedy” (if he truly lost them and served time unjustly).

It also highlights the massive historical and monetary significance of the recovered gold.

Source: A Comedy or a Tragedy? Treasure Hunter Freed from Prison

If your smartphone is hacked, your finances, private information and photos can be at risk. Here are 7 tips to cyberproof your smartphone.

Source: Cyberproof Your Smartphone | Extra Mile | The Hartford

How 99.99% Pure Silver Bars Are Really Made – Inside the Process with IndustroX

The latest video from IndustroX gives silver fans a rare, up‑close look at how true 99.99% pure silver bars are created—from raw material to finished bullion. What makes this walkthrough special is the level of detail: you see every stage of the refining process, including melting, impurity removal, precision pouring, and the final shaping and stamping that transforms molten metal into investment‑grade bars.

IndustroX highlights the intense heat required to liquefy silver, the careful skimming of impurities to reach that coveted .9999 purity level, and the skill it takes to pour clean, even bars without flaws or inclusions. For collectors, it’s a reminder of just how much craftsmanship goes into each bar we stack. For investors, it’s a clear demonstration of why premium silver carries the value it does—purity at this level isn’t an accident; it’s a process.

If you’ve ever wondered what separates ordinary bullion from ultra‑pure .9999 silver, this behind‑the‑scenes look lays it out beautifully. It’s a fascinating watch for anyone who appreciates the art, science, and precision behind the silver we buy, sell, and collect.

Recent volatility in the precious metals market is causing headaches for businesses that play an essential role in the circulation of gold and silver.

Source: Coin shops say they’re swimming in so much silver and gold that they’re having to limit purchases

Gold and silver recently experienced an extreme, fast-moving rally followed by an equally sharp reversal. This video walks through what happened in the metals markets, why parabolic moves tend to end the way they do, and how leverage, sentiment, and market structure can turn rapid gains into sudden drawdowns. By stepping back and looking at historical parallels across commodities, we explain why these episodes are not unusual—and why they rarely resolve smoothly at the top.

Silver and Gold Collapsed

This video is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not financial advice, investment advice, or a recommendation to buy or sell any asset. The views expressed are opinions only and should not be relied upon for financial decisions. Always do your own research and consult with a licensed financial professional before making investment choices.