The difference between bars and ingots is that the bars are pressed and ingots are made by poring platinum into a mould. From a collectors point of view the coins and small bars are the easiest to collect. The larger bars, such as 10 kilos or the ingots are very expensive of course as platinum is almost twice the cost of gold.

The coins are a favorite of collectors and many mints now produce proof and brilliant uncirculated (BU) .9999 pure platinum coins for collectors. These should always be supplied in plastic coverings, usually called bubbles, to protect them from the environment and grimy fingers. One should never ever touch a proof or BU coin with ones bare fingers as this can cause “crack” marks which will heavily reduce the value of the coin. Often the coins are in presentation cases and they should be left in the cases.