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Rhodium coins and bars…
Do these exist?
And is it expensive to own genuine rhodium bullion?
Find out below!
- Do Rhodium Coins and Bars Exist?
- What are Black Rhodium Coins?
- Is Rhodium the Rarest Precious Metal You Can Buy? Why is Rhodium so Expensive?
- What is a Good Alternative to Rhodium Coins and Bars?
- Rhodium vs Osmium vs Ruthenium vs Iridium- How Does Bullion Made of These Four Precious Metals Compare?
Here’s an awesome quiz about rhodium-made coins and bars. Take it after you’ve read my guide for your best results.
Table of Contents
What is Rhodium?
Rhodium (Rh) is a silver-white rare metal belonging to the platinum group. This precious metals is very high priced because its rarity surpasses that of gold, silver, and platinum.
Rhodium is a byproduct of copper and nickel mining, and deposits are found in conjunction with palladium, another very rare noble metal.
Significant rhodium production comes from South Africa, responsible for 80-90% of global rhodium supply, while Russia and Canada also contribute to a degree.
Most of the metal’s usage revolves around automotive and jewelry manufacturing, with only a small percentage going into bullion making.
Do Rhodium Coins and Bars Exist?
Yes, rhodium coins and bars exist.
They’re rare though as rhodium is far more scarce and valuable than gold, silver and even platinum and palladium.
Below are some examples of rhodium bars and coins you can legally buy and own. I also included a few samples of rhodium-plated coins where the base is made of some other precious metal.
Rhodium bars are more prevalent than coins, making them a preferred choice for those wanting physical rhodium.
Reputable brands such as Luciteria, PAMP Suisse and Baird & Co. produce high-quality rhodium bars you can buy and legally own.
See examples below.
What are Black Rhodium Coins?
Black rhodium coins are collector coins, typically made of silver or gold, that have a dark, almost black, finish achieved through rhodium plating.
Rhodium black plating gives these coins visually striking appearance and also provides superb corrosion and oxidation resistance (rhodium is a very corrosion-resistant precious metal).
For comparison, black rhodium coins are very similar to black ruthenium coins.
The Royal Canadian Mint has produced notable examples of black rhodium coins, such as the 1 oz Elegant Maple and the “Discovering Dinosaurs” series.
Black rhodium plating is applied selectively to choice coins to emphasize their intricate details like a maple leaf or fossil bone, making these coins visually stand out.
Black rhodium coins are collector coins, typically made of silver or gold, that have a dark, almost black, finish achieved through rhodium plating. Share on XIs Rhodium the Rarest Precious Metal You Can Buy? Why is Rhodium so Expensive?
No, rhodium isn’t the rarest precious metal you can buy.
For example, osmium is much rarer on our planet than rhodium and consequently osmium bullion is almost impossible to find anywhere.
Rhodium, however, is still among the rarest precious metals available today (rhodium is 100 times rarer than gold).
Current production relies heavily on a few locations, with 80-90% sourced from South Africa, alongside moderate contributions from Russia and Canada.
This limited availability maintains its high market value and air of exclusivity.
What is a Good Alternative to Rhodium Coins and Bars?
The good alternative to rhodium coins and bars is bullion made of the four classic precious metals i.e., platinum, silver, gold and palladium.
There’re are two best precious metal companies from US that I recommend.
I recommend Augusta Precious Metals for your gold and silver bullion needs. Working with them is safe, fast, secure and confidential.
Get Augusta’s free gold investment guide here!
I recommend Birch Gold Group for your palladium and platinum needs. They’re a superb and trusted US precious metal dealer and they can help you buy the bullion you want.
Get Birch Gold’s free gold investment guide here!
Note: Augusta Precious Metals can help you open both gold IRA and silver IRA accounts.
Birch Gold Group can help you open platinum IRA and palladium IRA accounts.
Rhodium vs Osmium vs Ruthenium vs Iridium- How Does Bullion Made of These Four Precious Metals Compare?
Rhodium, osmium, ruthenium, and iridium share classification within the platinum group metals. Numerous distinctions exist among these metals, particularly related to their rarity, physical properties, market demand and the number of coins and bars you can buy.
Here’s a quick table I made comparing these four rare and valuable precious metals.
| Precious metal | Rarity | Number of coins on the market | Number of bars on the market | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rhodium | More abundant than osmium and iridium but rarer than ruthenium. | 4 rhodium coins available for purchase online | 5+ rhodium-made bars available on the market. | $5000+ per troy ounce |
| Osmium | Extremely rare, rarer than rhodium, ruthenium and iridium. | 1 osmium coin available for purchase online | 2 bars currently available. | $400+ per troy ounce |
| Iridium | More abundant that osmium but rarer than rhodium and ruthenium. | 1 iridium coin available for purchase online | 2 bars currently available. | $600+ per troy ounce |
| Ruthenium | More abundant than rhodium and iridium but rarer than osmium. | Pure ruthenium coins don't exist. Several ruthenium-plated coins exist. | 2 bars currently available. | $4200+ troy ounce |
Do Rhodium Coins and Bars Exist? Conclusion
Rhodium coins and bars exist.
They’re rare though as rhodium is far scarcer and more valuable than gold, silver and even platinum and palladium.
Significant rhodium production comes from South Africa, responsible for 80-90% of global supply, while Russia and Canada also contribute considerably. Most of the metal’s usage revolves around automotive and jewelry manufacturing, with only a small percentage going into bullion making.
Note: visit our jewelry store and see which gold coins replicas we sell. They’re not rhodium coins given that these are very expensive and rare.
But you’ll be pleasantly surprised and we ship our products globally!
References:
- Investing in Rhodium Bullion- https://www.coinguide.com/product-category/rhodium/
- Rhodium: A Hidden Gem of the Precious Metals Market- https://www.mgsrefining.com/blog/rhodium-a-hidden-gem/
- What is Rhodium?- https://learn.apmex.com/answers/what-is-rhodium/
- Are Any Coins Made of Rhodium?- https://www.govmint.com/coin-authority/post/are-any-coins-made-of-rhodium
- 1 oz Rhodium Tuvalu South Sea Dragon Coin- https://daveandcometals.com/product/1-oz-rhodium-tuvalu-south-sea-dragon-coin/
- Maple Leaves in Motion – 5 oz. Pure Silver Coin with Black Rhodium Plating- https://www.mint.ca/en/shop/coins/2024/5-oz-pure-silver-coin-with-black-rhodium-plating-maple-leaves-in-motion
- S$20 Canada Elegant Maple Leaf Black Rhodium FR NGC PF70 Matte Box COA OGP- https://www.ebay.com/itm/365649771418
- S$20 Canada Elegant Maple Leaf Black Rhodium FR NGC PF70 Matte Box COA OGP- https://www.mint.ca/en/shop/coins/2022/5-oz-pure-silver-coin-with-blue-rhodium-plating-maple-leaves-in-motion
- Ghana 2022 1-oz Silver 5 Cedis Alien Rhodium Plated Proof- https://www.ebay.com/itm/385788658951
- Rhodium .9995 1 oz Bar- https://www.luciteria.com/bullion/rhodium-9995-1-oz-bar
- Rhodium .9995 1 Gram Bar- https://www.luciteria.com/bullion/rhodium-9995-1-gram-bar
Nikola Roza
Nikola Roza is a blogger behind Nikola Roza- SEO for the Poor and Determined. He writes for bloggers who don't have huge marketing budget but still want to succeed. Nikola is passionate about precious metals IRAs and how to invest in gold and silver for a safer financial future. Learn about Nikola here.
