You already know that gold and silver hold monetary value, but why? All precious metals are naturally occurring metallic chemical elements that are relatively rare to find. Their rarity—along with a host of decorative and industrial uses—is what makes them so valuable.
Since these metals are elements that can be found on the Periodic Table, they all have unique chemical symbols. These two-letter abbreviations often stem from Latin words or have some other significant meaning. In this article, we’ll explore the meaning behind the chemical symbols of the top precious metals.
Gold
Known for its bright yellow color, gold has been one of the most treasured precious metals for thousands of years. Its chemical symbol, Au, comes from the Latin word “aurum,” which refers to light, golden, or glowing. Gold has been associated with the sun by several cultures, notably the ancient Egyptians. Alchemists once tried to produce gold from other natural substances like lead. The attempt to manufacture the metal led to the Spanish word for goldsmith, which comes from the Latin “auri faber,” meaning gold metallurgist. Gold is a very soft metal that is often alloyed with other metals for strength. Its uses span from currency to jewelry to technology.
Silver
While gold was associated with the sun, silver was associated with the moon, or the goddess of the moon known as Diana. This was due to its white color; which also led to its chemical symbol of Ag from the Latin word “argentum,” meaning off-white. Silver has been used for centuries for cutlery, medicine, jewelry, and a host of other uses. In the 4th century AD, Spain supplied the Roman Empire with silver, which was prepared for export in sheets called “plattum argentum.” To this day, the Spanish word for silver—platta—draws from these roots. Because it’s a soft metal, it’s often alloyed with another metal like copper. You’re probably familiar with the phrase sterling silver, which refers to a metal that is made of 92.5 percent silver and 7.5 percent copper.
Platinum
When platinum was first discovered by Spaniards in modern day Columbia, they originally thought it was a variant of silver because of its grey-white color. Its name and chemical symbol of Pt comes from the Spanish word “platina,” which means little silver. However, the Spaniards were stumped when they couldn’t melt it. It was eventually determined that this was a new metal with a very high melting point. It’s a dense, hard metal that is often alloyed with softer metals like iridium when crafting jewelry.
Palladium
Out of the metals in this article, palladium was discovered the latest—in 1803. Its name and chemical symbol of Pd were named after the asteroid Pallas. Because of its later discovery, its history is not as rich as the other metals. Yet it has plenty of uses. Palladium’s main use is in the manufacture of automotive catalytic converters, with additional uses in dentistry and jewelry. Palladium is one of the three metals that can be alloyed with gold to make white gold.
Copper
The use of copper dates back centuries, when it was used to strike some of the earliest coins. Its chemical symbol of Cu comes from the Latin word “cuprum,” which was derived from the Greek Kypros. This is how the Greeks refer to the island of Cyprus, where a large quantity of copper was found. Copper is highly conductive and it’s used in construction, household appliances, plumbing, and electrical wiring.
Digging into the meaning of these names and chemical symbols sheds light on how these metals were discovered and used by older civilizations. Provident has captured a small piece of this history with the Provident Prospector 1 oz Silver Round, featuring a gold prospector carrying a sifting pan and pickaxe.
Are you familiar with historical facts about precious metals? What’s your favorite bit of information or story you’ve heard?
Leave a Reply