Precious metals, most notably gold, silver, and platinum, have always held monumental value in economies, partly because of their grandiose glimmer and partly because of their practical use. These metals are usually seen as safe bets, as they keep their value and are limited in quantity. Today, these metals are traded as commodities, though many investors opt to invest in precious metal funds like Vanguard Precious Metals And Mining Fund Investor Shares (MUTF:VGPMX) and USAA Precious Metals and Minerals Fund (MUTF:USAGX) instead.