Platinum coins are made in four denominations different than the similar gold coins. Platinum is a precious metal discovered in 1906. Its chemical stability makes it excellent for industrial applications, and its resistance to tarnishing and wear makes it a popular choice when crafting jewelry. Platinum is very rare, only making up 0.005 PPM (parts per million) of the Earth’s crust. Platinum is associated with prestige- in fact, King Louis XV of France declared it the only metal fit for a king! Today, platinum is available in the form of coins and bullion.