The second darkest gray metal after tantalum, vanadium is delicate and easily succumbs to the action of oxygen and other elements to produce unexpectedly colorful byproducts. Most of the worldwide mining output ends up being used as an additive to steel to increase structural soundness. As little as a tenth of a percent can magically double the load-bearing strength of lower grade steel.

Our manufacturer had never fielded a request to mint bars made from vanadium. Happily, after testing, it did not provide any great technical difficulties in the making of these bars but the sheets from which the bars were cut turned out pricier than expected. This is due to the low number of facilities that have experience working with this metal rather than the cost of the material or its machinability.