| Platinum has had an ambivalent history as a precious metal. While it has been used sporadically through the centuries, it only came to be seen as a metal with value in the 1800s. Initially considered inferior to silver by the Spaniards (calling it Platina, or “little silver”), this special metal has seen an increase in demand since WWII.
While silver is known for its use in medicine and technology, platinum is the greenest of the precious metals. Since the 1970s the automobile industry has relied on platinum as the essential component in catalytic converters. These small devices fight air pollution and larger versions scrub the air in many industrial applications...............................................Full Article: Source
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