Savvy investors and collectors know the current market’s high-profile gold and silver bars. In comparison to gold and silver, palladium is a lesser-known metal but one that is growing in value and popularity among precious metal collectors.
The metal’s value has tripled in recent years, increasing the demand for palladium assets. Even though the price of palladium has gone up, it still costs less than gold and silver, which makes it easier for new investors to get started.
Here are the best places to buy palladium in our opinion:
Best Palladium Dealers Reviewed
If you’re wondering where to buy palladium, there are a few key factors to consider when choosing a dealer. First and foremost, look for a reputable and established dealer with a track record of customer satisfaction. Check online reviews and ratings, ensure that the dealer offers fair pricing and transparent policies, make sure the dealer has adequate security measures in place, inquire about their inventory and selection, and, finally, consider the level of customer service and support provided by the dealer, including response times, communication channels, and dispute resolution processes.
Goldline
BBB: A+
Business Consumer Alliance: A
Trustpilot: 4.9/5
Goldline is a precious metal dealer that was founded in 1960 and is headquartered in Los Angeles, CA.
Goldline offers one-ounce palladium bars to invest in.
Orders are shipped for free.
Goldline accepts wire transfers.
Goldline offers a seven-day price guarantee program for purchases over $10,000. Also, the company provides educational resources to new investors who want to learn about the precious metals industry and how to get started with investing.
Money Metals Exchange
BBB: A+
Business Consumer Alliance: CC
Trustpilot: 2.3/5
Money Metals Exchange is an online bullion dealer that was founded in 2010.
Some palladium investment options include American Eagle and Canadian Maple Leaf coins, as well as one and 10-ounce bars.
The company offers free shipping on orders over $500.
Investors can pay via credit or debit card, PayPal, check, wire transfer, ACH transfer, money order, or cryptocurrency.
The company has an education center on its website that provides investors with information about previous metals.
Noble Gold Investments
BBB: A+
Business Consumer Alliance: AA
Trustpilot: 2.9/5
Noble Gold is a precious metal brokerage firm in Pasadena, CA, established in 2017.
Noble Gold offers palladium coins and bars to invest in. Some options include Canadian Maple Leaf coins and one-ounce Credit Suisse bars.
The shipping prices vary based on the products, weight, and shipping location.
Noble Gold Investments accepts wire transfers.
The company offers a buyback program and a free investment kit to educate investors on physical assets. Noble Gold Investments also offers Survival Packs, which are pre-selected precious metal bundles. The company’s experts select a blend of precious metals for each Survival Pack tier. Finally, the company offers segregated storage.
Oxford Gold Group
BBB: A+
Business Consumer Alliance: AA
Trustpilot: 4.9/5
Oxford Gold Group is a precious metal company based in Los Angeles, CA, that was founded in 2017.
Some palladium assets offered by the company include one-ounce bars and Canadian Maple Leaf coins.
Oxford Gold Group offers free shipping.
The company accepts wire transfers.
The company offers a comprehensive investment guide and additional informative videos and articles on how to invest in physical assets. Also, Oxford Gold Group offers buyback and no-fee liquidation programs.
Regal Assets
BBB: F
Business Consumer Alliance: F
Trustpilot: 1.6/5
Regal Assets is a California-based precious metals dealer that was founded in 2009.
Some of the palladium investment options offered by the company include Canadian Maple Leaf coins, as well as one and 10-ounce bars.
The shipping prices vary based on the products, weight, and shipping location.
The company accepts wire transfers.
Regal Assets also offers pre-packaged assets at varying investment tiers. The company also offers a buyback program and segregated storage. Finally, investors are not charged any fees for the first year.
Palladium History
William Hyde Wollaston discovered the precious metal in 1803. The asteroid Pallas inspired the metal’s moniker. Although palladium is part of the platinum group of precious metals, its density and melting point are lower than other platinum metals.
What is palladium? This rare metal is only found in a few places worldwide. Palladium is primarily mined in South Africa, but significant deposits are also in the U.S., Canada, and Russia. In recent years, palladium has been sourced from automotive catalytic converter recycling operations.
Catalytic converters in automobiles are used to reduce the amount of harmful gasses emitted from the vehicle’s exhaust. The production of catalytic converters consumes more than half of the world’s palladium supply. Electronics, dental equipment, and fuel cells are just a few of the products also composed of palladium.
Palladium Coin Types
Palladium is quietly becoming one of the most popular precious metals in the 21st century as prices rise and the variety of products grows. Palladium bullion coins are one of the fastest-growing markets for the metal. Demand for palladium has increased in recent years, resulting in new coins and the revival of previously canceled programs.
- Russian coins
The Russian Ballerina was one of the first modern palladium coin collections. Each date mark features a new ballerina image at work, capturing Russia’s national fascination with the Moscow Ballet’s strength, beauty, and determination. From 1989 to 1995, the coins featured the Soviet Union’s hammer-and-sickle design on the reverse. However, coins produced after 1991 retained the Soviet-inspired design until their conclusion. The Russian Palladium Ballerina is available in one-ounce, one-half-ounce, one-quarter-ounce, and one-tenth-ounce weights.
- American Eagle
The U.S. Mint released the palladium American Eagle in 2017 after a seven-year wait and precisely two decades after the last American Eagle. The Act of 2010 permitted the production of an authorized palladium bullion coin within the existing American Eagle Series. The gold and silver Eagles were introduced in 1986, with the platinum Eagle following in 1997. The 111th U.S. Congress passed the Palladium Bullion Coin Act, featuring two historic design elements on the obverse and reverse.
- Canadian Maple Leaf
Palladium Maple Leaf coins were the first significant palladium bullion coins. The Royal Canadian Mint issued it from 2005 to 2007 and again in 2009. The Royal Canadian Mint reintroduced the Canadian Palladium Maple Leaf coins in 2015.
Canadian Palladium Maple Leaf coins are only available in one troy ounce. All Canadian Maple Leaf coins have a face value of $50 (CAD). The effigy of Queen Elizabeth II is depicted on the front of the palladium Maple Leaf, and the reverse features Walter Ott’s 1979 gold Maple Leaf design.
Palladium Bar Types
The most popular palladium bars on the market today are from Credit Suisse and PAMP Suisse. But these aren’t the only refineries producing palladium bars. Others include Johnson Matthey, Engelhard, and Valcambi Suisse.
- PAMP Suisse is a leading producer of precious metal bars, including the famous Fortuna design. The Fortuna design features the goddess with a blindfold over her eyes and a cornucopia on her head. Her clenched hands capture the coins flowing from the cornucopia at the bar’s bottom.
- Credit Suisse and Valcambi Suisse create palladium bars with a corporate logo on one side and identifying features on the other. Each company produces popular one-ounce and 10-ounce sizes.
- Johnson Matthey is a popular producer of palladium bars, with its Lewis & Clark design being the most prominent. Meriwether Lewis and William Clark are shown surveying the vast American landscape as they travel through the western wilderness.
Palladium Coins and Bars Sizes
- Palladium coin sizes
Typically, most palladium coins are one-ounce.
- Palladium bars sizes
Palladium bullion bars range in size from one gram to 10 ounces. However, the most commonly traded and purchased by investors is one ounce or less.
Why Invest in Palladium Coins and Bars?
Palladium bullion bars are a cost-effective way to get started in the exciting world of precious metal investing. Precious metals are often inversely correlated to the stock market. This means that when the prices of stocks drop, precious metals may remain relatively stable or increase in value. Additionally, the value of precious metals is based on their intrinsic worth. Lastly, the limited supply of precious metals makes them a popular investment option.
Palladium is one of the rarer precious metals. As a result, its price has the potential to increase as its supply diminishes. Moreover, the price of precious metals has steadily increased since 2001, including the value of palladium.
Palladium Pros and Cons
Palladium is rarer than gold and silver, which affects how quickly the price of the precious metal rises. However, before jumping headfirst into palladium investing, consider these factors:
Pros
- Rare
Palladium is rarer than some other precious metals. As a result, this is reflected in the price.
- Short-term Gains
Due to the rarity and demand, the price of palladium may rise quickly. As such, investors could liquidate quicker for short-term gains.
- Many Uses
Palladium is popular and found in many goods and industries, including jewelry, medicine, and automobiles.
Cons
- Volatility
Due to the scarcity, the price is often volatile. Demand is rarely met due to the overwhelming number of mining requests.
- Risk
The volatility may not be suitable for all investors. Some individuals don't want risky investments.
- Less Dense
It is less dense than platinum, requiring more to achieve a similar value. Also, due to its rarity, industries may look for substitutes to replace palladium.
Palladium Coins and Bars FAQ
Which Palladium Coins Should I Purchase?
While all coins have value, the most popular bullion coins offer the best investment opportunities. For instance, Palladium Maple Leaf coins are composed of .9995 pure palladium. Therefore, these coins may be a solid choice for investors looking to diversify their investment portfolios through the addition of palladium.
Is Palladium a Metal?
Palladium is a rare silvery-white metal. It resembles silver and platinum in appearance. However, palladium is the lightest with the lowest melting point.
Is Palladium a Good Investment?
Palladium is a rare element used predominantly in the automotive, electrical, chemical, jewelry, and dental industries. However, palladium also has investment potential due to its limited supply. As the supply of palladium diminishes, there is potential that the price could significantly rise.
Is Palladium Rarer Than Gold?
Yes and no. Palladium is rare, with a crustal concentration of 0.015 parts per million (ppm). In comparison, silver is 0.075 ppm, platinum is 0.005 ppm, and gold is 0.004 ppm.
Humans have been prospecting gold for thousands of years, while palladium was only discovered scientifically a few centuries ago. Above-ground gold bullion supplies dwarf today’s refined physical palladium supply. Palladium was first discovered in the early 19th century, and only 6,000 tons have been mined.
Despite increased investment capital flows in palladium, virtually all current palladium demand is for industrial uses.
What Are Some Differences Between Palladium Bars & Palladium Coins?
Palladium coins are more appealing to collectors, with unique designs like the Maple Leaf coins. Because of their smaller size and improved authenticity features, investment-grade palladium coins trade at a premium compared to palladium bullion.
How Much Palladium Is Required To Diversify a Portfolio?
To diversify a portfolio, typically, a minimum of 10% should be in precious metals like palladium. However, investors often buy more when economic or geopolitical uncertainty arises. Your personal preferences will always determine your preferred asset mix.
What Are The Advantages of Investing In Palladium Bullion Coins Compared To Bars?
Palladium coins have uniform weight, purity, and size standards, making it easy to verify their authenticity. Second, investment-grade palladium coins are legal tender of the government mint that issues them and thus enjoy preferential tariff-free trading status globally. Finally, coins like the beautiful Maple Leaf are more valuable due to their detailed mint engravings.
How to Buy Palladium?
You can purchase palladium from reputable local dealers or online marketplaces, as they often offer competitive prices and a wide selection of products.
Why Buy Palladium?
Investing in palladium can provide diversification, act as a hedge against inflation, and offer potential for strong returns due to its rarity and increasing demand in various industries.