Platinum (chemical symbol Pt) is a silver-white precious metal that is exceptionally resistant to corrosion and tarnish. It is rarer and generally more valuable than gold. Due to its high melting point and hardness, platinum is more difficult to work with than gold or silver, so it has only rarely been used for regular coinage, the main exception being the 19th-century Russian platinum coins struck for circulation. Today platinum is used primarily for bullion and collector coins, where its rarity and prestige are valued.
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