The ancients called gold, silver, copper, iron, and tin 'the five metals'.
Tips
culture
This is the traditional list behind the modern term 五金 ('hardware'). Hardware shops are still called 五金店 - a fossilized reference to these five metals.
memory
Listed roughly in order of decreasing perceived value: 金 (gold) > 银 (silver) > 铜 (copper) > 铁 (iron) > 锡 (tin).
