Copper is not the only red element we have but few people would be able to name the rare selenium or the impossibly rare boron red-colored allotropes that also fit the bill (and bromine's more brown than red just to avoid controversy!) The rising cost of this basic commodity has led to entertaining news articles on the troubles (and follies) that small-time criminals take to get some to turn into recyclers for a quick profit.

Already it's rare to find coins dated in this millenium made from pure or nearly pure copper as inflation means the coins end up being worth more as metal than as money.... meaning that the issuing government loses money as people just hoard them or melt them down.

Oddly, a niche market in high end audio that proves very controversial sees audiophiles asking for cabling made from copper of the highest purity (so as to reach the highest electrical conductivity). The market, attuned to the needs of this lucrative demographic, has responded by processing copper to unheard of purities reportedly reaching to the ten nines!

Here we offer the much more palatably priced 4N (99.99%) purity. The cut rods are kept forever shiny in glass ampules within these attractive finished acrylic cubes.