Although, silver and platinum have much shorter histories, the reasons for investing in them are similar. For a discussion on the relative merits of the three metals, see Gold vs. Silver Vs. For the purposes of this discussion, I will use the word gold when referring to investment metals. G old has solid value. No one can say of gold that it isn't worth the paper its printed on.
Gold is scarce.
All the gold ever mined would fit in to a cube measuring just 20 yards on each side. Gold does not depend on a government's or company's promise to pay or produce for its value. Through centuries of war and peace, feast and famine, gold has always been a consistent store of value and a trusted medium of exchange. G old is an excellent way to diversify your investment portfolio. In times of high inflation or great uncertainty about the economy, these traditional investments tend not to fair well.