title: The Platinum & Palladium Buyer's Guide
author: Margaret A. Olsen
description: ... It will open up a new world of interest for many who have never thought much about coins, medals and bars made of these rare metals. ...Olsen's book includes a detailed catalog of more than 275 coins...Each item is listed and described in precise numismatic style showing weight, size, composition, fineness, edge, mint and catalog number... The conversion table makes it easy to work in grains, grams or pennyweights, ounces, Troy pounds, and karat fineness...This book also tells you the melting point of ten important metals. More important that that, however is the table charting the high and low values of platinum and palladium for the past 28 years. ...We highly recommend this book to anyone interested in collection of investing in the new United States platinum coins. The story of why and how this rare metal came to be first hated, and then greatly appreciated for its many unique qualities is fascinating. -- <i>Minneapolis, Gold, Silver & Numismatic Services, Inc., Volume1, Issue 3, October 1997</i><br /><br />...From the Intro. to the index these nearly 300 pages are jam packed with easy to find, easy to read, and easy to comprehend language - with hundreds of pictures... The book truly fills the quizzical needs of coin people... Coins are listed with coin specifications in detail - for all countries including Lesotho - Burkina Faso - Hutt River and Araucania/Patagonia. Refineries and mints are listed - easy to read Conversion Tables - Weights and Fineness Tables - Charts of Price History - and a Glossary of Terms and Definitions second to none. To say that this is a "sorely needed" and "easy to use" reference is the understatement of the year. Part 1 of this book could well be a best seller all by itself and certainly worth the cover price. It contains answers to all the platinum and palladium questions. There's a section on IRS Regulations - another on Broker Reporting Requirements and Cash Reporting Regulations. -- <i>Chester West Coin Show News, Volume X, Number 4, July/August 1997</i><br /><br />...The book contains more than 400 actual size photos or more than 275 coins, including the newly released platinum U.S. Eagle coins. Included is a history of platinum and its applications and projections and advice for dealing and investing in precious metals. -- <i>CoinWorld, Volume 38, Issue 1953, September 15, 1997</i><br /><br />At first glance, one may think that this book has limited appeal. In fact, the authors have presented the topic in such a way that it makes for interesting reading whether one collects in this very specialized field or not. The elements, platinum and palladium, are rarer than gold and were only refined in the last century. ...Although the business of buying and selling coinage of such rare metals is beyond most collectors, this book offers insight into the beauty and the art produced in these metals. The guide is recommended for any collection with an extensive coin collecting section. -- <i>Margaret F. Dominy American Reference Books Annual</i><br /><br />I almost missed out on reading this fine book. The title was a bit of a turn off for me because I thought it was another book on investing in platinum and precious metals. In a way it is, but there is a lot more to it than that. Besides the information it contains on platinum and palladium as a metal for investors, it also gives a very detailed overview of how these metals have been used as money by numerous countries. ...The final chapter contains a glossary of numismatic words that pertain to coins and precious metals. I am not sure if this is really needed for a numismatic audience, but it is accurate and surely will prove helpful to some readers. The bibliography at the end of the book had more appeal to me, and I found it reassuring to see that the authors had indeed done their research well. -- <i>Ken Bressett, THE BIBLIOPHILE, Winning Ways, August. 1997</i><br /><br />Margaret Olsen's new book The Platinum & Palladium Buyer's Guide is encyclopedic in scope and without parallel in its research of platinum and palladium coin issues...Its bibliography shows numerous sources, but it is clear that future studies of coinage struck in these rare metals will use this book as a starting point. -- <i>David L. Ganz, Coin Market Insider's Report COINage, the world's largest circulation coin magazine</i><br /><br />Publication noted: The Platinum & Palladium Buyer's Guide by Margaret Olsen (Westminster Publishing) a $24.95 "must buy" that is definitive in scope...Orders: 303 428-2512. -- <i>David Ganz, Coin Market Insider's Report COINage, September, 1997</i><br /><br />The Platinum and Palladium Buyer's Guide. In a short, pithy volume the author has written an encyclopedic work on two precious metals: platinum and palladium and their historic and current use for jewelry, industry and most relevant coins. Using an appealing style with lucid text, a great deal of practical information about platinum and palladium is presented with a generous amount of guidance for those considering an investment in these metals. There is an impressive discussion of investment strategy and caution applicable to any collector. The second part of the book covers all the countries in the world where coins and commemorative metals are made from platinum and palladium, Excellent illustrations enhance the text. -- <i>Beth G. Weingast, AAA, an appraiser of Numismatics and Judaica was the former Director of the Coin Department at Sotheby's, New York. wrote this review for The Appraiser, the Newsletter for Personal Property Appraisers published by the Appraisal Institute of America, Fourth Quarter, 1997</i><br /><br />The most comprehensive book devoted to platinum has been published by Westminster Publishing Company. The Platinum & Palladium Buyer's Guide by Margaret Olsen with Alison Matthews explains the history, uses and growth possibilities of platinum. The new book includes more than 400 actual size photos of more than 275 coins and is the first to include the new platinum Eagle coins from the U.S.. Mint that went on sale June 6 (1997). One out of five products we use today contains platinum. The book's author, Margaret Olsen, predicts that the price and demand for platinum will continue to rise. The book provides a handy reference to keep ahead of the trends. The resources available for precious metals investors has broadened with the release of The Platinum & Palladium Buyer's Guide. -- <i>Numismatic News - The Complete Information Source for Coin Collectors. Volume 46, Number 34, August 28, 1997</i>
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