May 2, 2010

France, 1832: Ore & Refined Quoted

DSQ 

1832: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Wien: Mfg, Ret./Econ.) = Fr. 40 (Fl. 15.4771)
1832: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Wien: Mfg, Ret./Complicated) = Fr. 50 (Fl. 19.3463)

An identical price range might suggest republished data, but various queries from potential Platinum buyers in 1833 - and quite approximate quotes for Platinum stills in that year - probably indicate prices were accurate, rising, and not just 'advertising hype.'

This was not the first crash for manufactured Platinum prices, considering the introduction of Wollaston's product in 1805, and Cuoq & Courturier's expanded production in 1814. Much higher prices had preceded those events (in 1800, 1802, 1820-5) so wiser, experienced consumers might have known to wait and buy at lower prices later.

The demand for Platinum apparatus was just beginning, and 1832 may have marked the Low for manufactured bulk Platinum.

UK prices show a Low for 1831/2, also.

c.1832: 1 Troy Ounce platina (ore, Paris) = Fr 5. (USD$ 0.96)


1830: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (mkt) = Fr 15.24 (USD$ 2.92)
1831: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (mkt) = Fr 16.25 (USD$ 3.12)
1832: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (mkt) = Fr 20.32 (USD$ 3.95)
1833: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (mkt) = Fr 23.33 (USD$ 4.39)

1832: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (refined) = Fr 22.35 (USD$ 4.21)
1832: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (intrinsic) = Rthr 6.65 (USD$ 4.62)
c.1832: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (re: Russian production) = Fr 24.57. (USD$ 4.75)

By 1832, Colombian platina rose again to an intrinsic price close to the Russian coin-rate (1832.) This was likely caused by increased demand from the USA, with the lifting of the 15% tariff on both platina & manufactured Platinum.

February, 1832: Platinum coinage had begun four years before this St. Petersbourg opinion.

The commodity price of imported Colombian platina, sold in St. Petersburg, Russia, fell 50% in 1824-1828. By 1828, the Colombian platina price on European Markets had risen nearly to the exchange rate in Platinum Roubles. 

Unknown: the (initial) 1824 commodity price of Colombian platina in SPb. 
 
Citation: Annuaire historique universel pour 1832 (1834) p. 274
"2. Saint-Petersburg. Platinum Currency. Already, the Congress of Vienna, a German, Dr. Bollmann, who had lived for a long time in various parts of America, proposed to the Austrian Government to buy platinum in America for the striking of currency. Then, this project was not yet undertaken. Since then, quite abundant platinum mines were discovered and exploited in Russia. The method to make malleable and mint Platinum was perfected.  Also the Russian government was the first to use this metal to make coin money, which however did not circulate out of the empire. The Journal de St. Petersburg has just given the following explanation on the minting of platinum in Russia*: 

* The first current-money in platinum was issued in Russia during 1828; another was issued in 1829, and since 1830 we have struck three coins, whose value is 3, 6 and 12 Silver Rubles. None of them carries the name Imperial, reserved exclusively to the gold coin; they are made of perfectly pure platinum, and they not only have a free circulation in trade, but are received in government coffers just as the gold and silver coins. The value of Russian platinum, far from being dependent of that of America, exerts an opposite influence on the latter, which price fell by half when the first mine was opened in the Urals; then, when news spread that we had resolved to monetize it in Russia, {Colombian} Platinum went up, and remains today almost at the level of Russian currency, which is very natural and will the be clear to one who has compared the small amount of platinum is gained in America with the enormous production of the Urals."


1832: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (intrinsic) = Fr 23.33 (USD$ 4.39)

Citation: Précis de la géographie universelle: (1835) Conrad Malte-Brun, p.530.

1832: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (intrinsic) = Rthr 6.65 (USD$ 4.62)

1830/2?: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (retail?) ~ Fl 19.44 (USD$ 7.78)

Citation: Das Kaiserreich Russland: statistisch-geschichtliche Darstellung seiner ...; Friedrich Reden (1843) p.561


c.1832: French Platinum Still, Fr 28,000 (USD$ 5,443.)

Citation: Dictionnaire de l'industrie manufacturière, commerciale.., Vol.1; Alexandre Baudrimont (1833)


1832: French platina ore imports; Platinum exports

1832: French platina import (80% ore) = 32.65 Kgs. = 1,050 Ozt
1832: French Pt import (.999) = 26.12 Kgs. = 840 Ozt.  
 

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