Any Thoughts on Rhodium?

[chris_is_here]

I don't recall this being discussed much here, but any thoughts on the relative merits of investing in rhodium, as opposed to the better-known white metals?

Rhodium is currently quoted at $1,225 x $1,325, the cheapest available one-ounce bars run about $1,450.

Rhodium prices seem to be relatively depressed, when compared with the other white metals. Rhodium has traded as high as $10,000 per ounce in recent years, with lows below $1,000.

Interesting when you look at the historical percentages changes of rhodium vs. platinum over a 5-year period...the two move in perfect lock-step until the latter months of 2008; while the two metals were equally hammered down in the crash of 2008, platinum went on to recover, while rhodium continued to drop, falling below $1,000. You can see this if you go to the link below and run a 5-year chart of the two metals together (I don't how the hell to embed the chart here, if anyone can instruct me in this, it would be most appreciated)....

http://charts.kitco.com/KitcoCharts/index.jsp

I am not sure why rhodium was the only metal that did not run up in the wake of the 2008 collapse. It may be that its uses are so specialized, and the cost so prohibitive, that the end-users have sought out replacements for it. The current price of rhodium approximates platinum, although the annual production figures are quite different: 25 tons for rhodium vs 130 tons for platinum. There's not much of either to go around.

If anyone out there has insight into this metal, please share it - not much is available

[jogslvr]

I look at it as being the "king of the greater fools" metals. Liquidity sucks. JMO

[ErrosionOfAccord]

I look at it as being the "king of the greater fools" metals. Liquidity sucks. JMO


I have a tendency to agree. Why not rhenium at $4500? Because most people do not know what it is. Who are you going to sell it to? People making turbo fans or people making turbos? If the economy goes to pieces who will be building such thing out of material at such high prices.

[Doc777]

Rhodium is currently quoted at $1,225 x $1,325, the cheapest available one-ounce bars run about $1,450.

I have heard that it is very hard to find Rhodium in a coin because the metal is normally in powder form and is very brittle.

Where can I find a bar or coin? I am interested in picking one up.
THanks.

[Oz Waver]

Rhodium is currently quoted at $1,225 x $1,325, the cheapest available one-ounce bars run about $1,450.

I have heard that it is very hard to find Rhodium in a coin because the metal is normally in powder form and is very brittle.

Where can I find a bar or coin? I am interested in picking one up.
THanks.

http://www.rhodiumcoin.com/

Cohen mint produces rare metal coins and appear to be the only one that I know about.

Seriously check out their site even if it's just to know.

They make coins out of:
Niobium Rhenium Tantlum Rhodium and then Platinum gold silver and palladium.

[Chester-Copperpot]

Do your research on the Cohen mint before you buy. They have scammed a lot of people, and seem to have a bad rep.

[Oz Waver]

Do your research on the Cohen mint before you buy. They have scammed a lot of people, and seem to have a bad rep.

Wow, your right!

[Argentsum]

The problem with Rhodium is there is no actively traded market in this metal. The
mechanics of price discovery are not as smooth as in other arenas.

I would hazard that your only buyers would be refiners. Possibly you could sell to
a company that uses such material but most buyers are not interested in "one-off"
purchases. Companies need continuous supplies of material so unless you are a
miner or refiner or there is a huge shortage of material, I don't see how they'd be
interested in buying a few ounces as a one time trade.

[chris_is_here]

Appreciate the responses thus far. One person asked "who are you going to sell it to?", which is the exact word-for-word response I got from a local metals dealer....thanks also for the heads-up on the Cohen mint, I had no idea they were disreputable....I found the following complaint on Ripoff Report...

http://www.ripoffreport.com/on-line-stores/cohen-mint/cohen-mint-www-rhodiumcoin-co-65f2c.htm

and these....

http://www.complaints.com/2011/february/13/Cohen_Mint_rip_off_251907.htm

http://www.complaints.com/2010/november/21/Cohen_Mint_scam_246392.htm

Plenty of others....it sounds like they are selective scammers, that pick and choose who they will rip off.....

Given that there is only one other venue I know of to purchase rhodium (Kitco), I think I'll pass on this idea. Just not enough of a market or retail interest to make it worthwhile.

Of course, having now said this, I'm sure rhodium will zoom over $10,000 an ounce in the next 6 months :cry_smile:

[Garyw]

You asked for thoughts on rhodium. I am not well schooled on Rhodium however I deal in antique and vintage jewelry. Most high end costume jewelry in the last 60 years or so has base metal or copper or brass backing with a rhodium plating. The rhodium is a high shine surface without tarnishing or fading much. Most pieces from 40's thru 70's are rhodium plated and they still are beautiful. Also Platinum does not stay shiny and many pieces of platinum jewelry are plated with rhodium. It is expensive but used as a plating it works well. Hope that helps.

[shadow]

Baird Mint makes 1 oz Rhodium bars. The bars are selling for about $100 over spot at Kitco and Golden eagle coin.

http://www.goldline.co.uk/rhodium-bars.page

http://www.goldeneaglecoin.com/Other_Metals/item/Rhodium_Bars:_Baird_Mint_One_Ounce_Rhodium_Bar

Looks like they come in a plastic coated card.

[tesskansas]

Do your research on the Cohen mint before you buy. They have scammed a lot of people, and seem to have a bad rep.
Thanks for the info. I have not done business with this company yet. I made my Rhodium purchases prior to joining this forum.

Life is sure getting interesting.:cry_smile:

[tesskansas]

You asked for thoughts on rhodium. I am not well schooled on Rhodium however I deal in antique and vintage jewelry. Most high end costume jewelry in the last 60 years or so has base metal or copper or brass backing with a rhodium plating. The rhodium is a high shine surface without tarnishing or fading much. Most pieces from 40's thru 70's are rhodium plated and they still are beautiful. Also Platinum does not stay shiny and many pieces of platinum jewelry are plated with rhodium. It is expensive but used as a plating it works well. Hope that helps.

Helpful response. Thanks.

[tesskansas]

Baird Mint makes 1 oz Rhodium bars. The bars are selling for about $100 over spot at Kitco and Golden eagle coin.

http://www.goldline.co.uk/rhodium-bars.page

http://www.goldeneaglecoin.com/Other_Metals/item/Rhodium_Bars:_Baird_Mint_One_Ounce_Rhodium_Bar

Looks like they come in a plastic coated card.
The prices at Goldline seem much kinder than what GoldenEagleCoin offers.
I placed my order through GoldenEagle before every joining this forum. Their ship out time is rather long, even for a personal check. I have done business with GoldenEagle in past and was happy with the product, though a little onwait for the product to arrive (they had blizzards at the time-over a month wait).

[plata_oro]

The prices at Goldline seem much kinder than what GoldenEagleCoin offers.
I placed my order through GoldenEagle before every joining this forum. Their ship out time is rather long, even for a personal check. I have done business with GoldenEagle in past and was happy with the product, though a little onwait for the product to arrive (they had blizzards at the time-over a month wait).

Yeah dude, Golden Eagle Coin takes a while especially for large orders as they ship them USPS registered. But if you like silver Libertads or any specific numi coin along with a Rhodium bar I suggest buying there as they offer a very wide selection to choose from. Me personally not a fan of Platinum, Palladium, or Rhodium. I just don't know much about their industrial use and none of them have ever been known to be monetary metals.

[Tinbox]

Rhodium down $175 today :hmmmm2: 13.4% drop in one day, I wonder what happened.

[samwiii]

Rhodium down $175 today :hmmmm2: 13.4% drop in one day, I wonder what happened.

JPM Smackdown?

[lumpOgold]

I have a couple non-PM metals that could be good for storage, Indium and Tellurium. Indium is used in all our electronic gizmos with touch screens to make transparent conductors (that's what I do for a living). Tellurium is used in CdTe solar cells and is one of the rarest transitions metals, First Solar (& other dollar companies) has stockpiled it so they don't have a shortage in the near future, but they will run out eventually and I want to sell them mine for a profit.

[TimeIsMoney55]

The Baird mint is producing them in Bar shaped form...slabbed in cardboard similar to the Perth Mint Bar.