There are different ways by which one may invest in silver. Six are presented here: Buying silver coins: This is a popular way of taking hold of silver - physically. Perhaps the best example of a silver coin is the Canadian Silver Maple Leaf, which consists of 99.99% pure silver. Silver coins may either be "fine silver" or "junk silver". It is the densest natural element, being about 0.03 g/cm3 denser than iridium (the second densest natural element) and about twice as dense as lead. Among the platinum family members, osmium has the highest melting point and the lowest vapor pressure. This precious metal is nearly impossible to fabricate. Australian Gold Nugget, Lunar Series I, and Lunar Series II 2. Austrian Philharmoniker 3. Canadian Maple Leaf 4. Chinese Gold Panda 5. Mexican Centenario, Libertad, and Onza 6. Polish Orzel bielik 7. South African Krugerrand 8. Swiss Vreneli 9. British Britannia and Sovereign 10. American Buffalo, American Eagle, and Double Eagle The 10,000-dollar Australian Gold Nugget is one of the world's largest bullion coins. Below is a comparison of the chemical nobility of the precious metals (again, excluding rhenium), with details of their specific electronic configurations, simplified reactions (as per the pH diagram), and electrode potentials. The list is presented in order of increasing atomic number. 1. Ruthenium - VIIIb/5; Ru -> Ru2+ + 2 e-; 0.455 V 2. These six elements are collectively referred to as the platinum group metals. Of this group of metals, platinum is considered the most widely traded, as it is extensively used in the following: catalytic converters; dental alloys and other dentistry equipment; electrical conductors; resistive thermal devices, laboratory dishes and such other equipment capable of resisting chemical attack even in high temperature; and, of course, jewelry. Dentistry (silver-mercury alloy is used in making dental amalgams). 6. Optics and mirrors. 7. Various industrial and commercial uses (silver is ideal for use as a catalyst in chemical reactions). 8. Clothing (silver ions are mixed with the polymer to make yarns). 9. Medicine (silver compounds and silver ions have toxic effect on some viruses, fungi and bacteria, but not on humans).