Palladium was discovered in 1803 by William Hyde Wollaston and was named after the asteroid, Pallas. Since its discovery, palladium has gained much attention from stackers and numismatists, as well as the scientific community. While most of the world’s supply of palladium is used in catalytic converters for automobiles, palladium is also used in dentistry, medicine, electronics, hydrogen purification, water treatment, and jewelry. Palladium is a soft, silvery metal, resembling platinum, and is the least dense of the platinum metals group. Because of its soft composition, palladium is quite malleable and resistant to tarnish from oxidation. Scientists are constantly finding new uses for palladium, increasing the demand over time for this precious metal.
