Precious metals are metals that are rare or difficult to obtain, these conditions beside of there special chemical characteristics make them very valuable.
Chemically, the precious metals are less reactive than other metals, as they are softer, ductile, have high luster and have higher melting points than other metals.
Formerly, precious metals were important as currency, but now the majorities are looking at them from the investment and industrial commodities side.The best known and the most famous precious metals are coinage metals (gold and silver). They got the name coinage metals because they are better known for their uses in coinage. But they are also used as jewelry as they have other industrial uses.
Platinum is also one of the well known precious metals.
