Base Metals

Iron, Nickel, and Lead, oh my.

Base metals are...cheap metals. Base ones. Plebes. They corrode easily and are used in things like coin production at the US Mint (right next to the US Chocolate).

Their opposites? Precious metals...like gold and silver, i.e. things you'd want to collect and/or use as a store of wealth. Remember the stamping on the back: E Pluribus Shmoop 'em.