[quote=esmith]What’s the cheapest way to buy and sell physical platinum? Anyone knows? Kitco does not sell 1-ounce coins and they have huge spreads on 1/2 ounce coins (buying for 490 and selling for 569).[/quote]
This is more of an opinion rather than an answer. I don’t hold any platinum and don’t doubt its long term prospects, but I question its convertibility. I think your post attests to this. Platinum is valuable, yes, but it isn’t at the level of gold or silver when it comes to convertibility. Additionally, I fear that a large portion of platinum consumption, along with the consumption of the other platinum metals like palladium and rhodium, are heavily over-weighted (as much as 50% or more) towards vehicle consumption in the form of catalytic converters. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Search?search=palladium&go=Go
Vehicle consumption in the US and Europe has stalled. And those who argue that China and India are the next big markets for vehicles must confront the lack of environmental regulations in those countries and ask whether catalytic converters will be utilized in vehicles sold there. My gut tells me NO, at least in the short term (10+ years).
I guess my answer to your question is a question: why platinum? If you are looking to be able to convert it in the short term (1-5 years), I think you might be better served in highly convertible forms of silver or gold, IMHO.
