Russia, 1849: Price of Platina (Semi-refined ingot)

In July 1849, the Russian export price was Fr 855. (216.5 - 281.7 Silver руб.) per Kilogram or руб. ~3,546. - 3,582. per Poud.  The estimate of руб. Kr. 3,600 = руб. Ag. 3,445 per Poud.  The corrected value range is 18,668 -18,859 Fl C. M. per 100 Pfund Wiener.

The Exchange of 1 руб. = 5.265 Conv. Munz. Florin ;  0.19 руб. = 1 Conv. Munz. Florin

Gold was 14.10x the Price of Gold; Platinum was 1.08x the Price of Silver. 

1849: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (ore @ StPb, intrinsic?) = Fr 26.593 (USD$ 5.00)
1849: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (ore @ StPb, intrinsic?) = 6.73 - 6.80 руб. Ag
....Fl C. M. 35.45-35.63; £ 1.0 - £ 1.068; USD$ 5.05 - 5.10  

1849: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Manufactured @ StPb) = 10.9372 руб. Ag
1849: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Manufactured @ StPb) = Fr 42.98 (USD$ 8.09)
....Fl C. M. 57.58; £ 1.625 ; USD$ 8.204

100 Pfund Vienna H.w. = 56 Kilograms; 1 Poud =  16.3805 Kg. ; 100 Pfund Vienna H.w. = 3.4187 Pouds.  In 1840, 100 Pfund Vienna H.w. (@ 11,520 руб. Acc./Poud) = 39,383 руб. Acc./  11,252 руб. Ag ~ Fl. C. M. 17,316.42 ∴ 1 Kg platina = Fl. C. M. 309.22

In 1849, 100 Pfund Vienna H.w. (@ 3,600 руб. Ag/Poud) = Fl. C. M. 18,935. ∴ 1 Kg platina = Fl. C. M. 338.11

An Austrian account details Russian platina & Platinum prices, and aspects of the trade.

"Platina has been discovered in both Crown and private mines of the Ural Mountains.  Among the latter, the Demidow's in Nizhny Tagilsk are the richest.

From 1838-40, the average yield of 100 Pouds or 1,152,000 руб Assignats, has been, as recovery in general, sharply reduced recently.  Between 1824-34, the Ural mines yielded a value of 8,999,712 Ru. Bco. Ass (Conv. Munz. Florins 3,957,016); in 1840, Crown Mines produced 4 Funt 48 Zolotnik (3.25 Pfd Vienna.  H.w.) and Private Mines 93 Pouds 26 Funt 15 Zolotnik 35 Dolya (2,737 Pfd. Vienna.  H.w.)  The Poud was assumed at that time to be 11,520 Banco Assignat Roubles {1827: 3,093.12 Silver Roubles or 1840: 3,140 Silver Roubles for Ore}  (100 Pfund Vienna. H.w. = Conv. Munz. Fl 17,337.5)  In 1848, the yield in the Urals in the Crown Mines was about 5 Funt ; in private mines 2 Pouds 32 Funt. 

According to the Finance Ministry, the export price is currently Fr 885/Kg.; on Exchange in Roubles as expected. 100 kilograms are the same 244.19 Russian Funts.  During our stay in St. Petersburg (July 1849) the Exchange on Paris was Fr 3.91-3.95 per 1 Silver Rouble.  Accordingly, the price is currently about 3,600 Silver Roubles per Poud (100 Pfd Vienna.  H.w. = Fl C. M. 18,954.)

Platina - Containers for chemical laboratories, including distillery-equipment for the manufacture of sulfuric acid are known as, so far wrought especially in Paris, and it is therefore understandable that a lot of ore goes to France. The Mint in Petersburg even sold refined and manufactured Platinum crucibles, spoons, bowls, etc. for 1 Rbl. 50 Cop. {1.5 Silver Roubles} per Zolotnik (1 Lth. Vienna.  H.w. 9 fl 30 kr. CM) with metal-cost and wages are included.  That makes 144 Silver Roubles per Funt or 5,760 Silver Roubles per Poud (1 Pfund Vienna.  H.w.  Conv. Munz. Fl 303, 26 kr.)

The import of platinum in grains, pieces, ingots and bars, by all customs offices and customs houses, without exception, is duty free. Until June 1846, the import of processed Platina was banned; since then it has been tariffed 25%, with the exception of those items that are needed by factories and crafts and imported through the ports of St. Petersburg and Odessa. After first obtaining permission of the department of special times, first Class Platinumware for factories and trades, shall be duty free and exempt from from all customs at European offices of foreign trade. The export of Platina in any form is permitted duty free by all customs offices and customs houses on all frontiers of the empire."

1849:

Citation: Bericht über die Gewerbe-Ausstellung des russischen Reichs zu St. Petersburg ... Ludwig Damböck, Jacob Manner(1849) p.92



 



Where 1 Russian pood = 526.6 Troy Ounces, and 

1 руб (Silver) = £ 0.1625 ; 1 руб (Silver) = USD$ 0.75; 1 руб (Silver) = Fr. 4.01  

Russian export was bar ingot (~75% pure?) ; given the French refining cost of ore was Fr 7.78/oz., the Paris Price for Russian ingot would be higher.

1849: 1 Troy Oz. platina (@ StPb, ingot, whols.) = 6.84 руб

1849: 1 Troy Oz. platina (@ St. Peterburg, semi-ref., whols.) = £ 1.11

1849: 1 Troy Oz. platina (@ StPb, ingot, whols.) ~ Fr 27.53

1849: 1 Troy Oz. platina (@ St. Peterburg, semi-ref., whols.) = $5.13

1849: 1 Troy Oz. platina (@ St. Peterburg, mfg) = 10.94 руб (Fr 43.21)

c.1848-9: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (London mfg, retail)  = £ 1.60 - 1.90 (USD$ 7.79 - 9.25)

c.1849: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (refined, ingot)  Fr. 27 (USD$ 5.16)

Briefly summarized, an American trade journal misinterpreted the Austrian account.

Citation: Merchants' magazine and commercial review, Volume 23 (1850) p.129

c.1846:

c.1848/9:





At the assumed par (Fr. 4 = 1 руб Ag)

1850: 1 Troy Ounce Platinum Scrap (SPb: Semi-Refined, .97 Pt) ~ 7 руб 

c. 1845-1850:




In 1845-52, the Russian platina yield was ~7,500 Troy Ounces per annum.