Precious metal "precious" metal can also be determined by high demand or market value. Precious metals in bulk form are known as bullion and are traded on commodity markets. Bullion metals may be cast into ingots or minted into coins. The defining attribute of bullion is that it is valued by its mass and purity rather than by a face value as money. The level of purity varies from issue to issue. "Three nines" (99.9%) purity is common. The purest mass-produced bullion coins are in the Canadian Gold Maple Leaf series, which go up to 99.999% purity. A 100% pure bullion is
Commodity markets. The wide availability of commodities typically leads to smaller profit margins and diminishes the importance of factors (such as brand name) other than price. The word "commodity" came into use in English in the 15th century, from the French "commodité", "amenity, convenience". Going further back, the French word derives from the Latin "commoditas", meaning "suitability, convenience, advantage". The Latin word "commodus" (from which English gets other words including "commodious" and "accommodate") meant variously "appropriate", "proper measure, time, or condition", and "advantage, benefit". In economics, the term "commodity" is used specifically for economic goods or services that have full or