In E.M. Clarke's Magnetic Electrical Machine, the platinum discs cost £ 0.2750, half the price of the Decomposition of Water Apparatus.
1837: 1 Troy Ounce Platinum (manufactured, whols.) ~ £ 1.45 (USD$ 7.07)
The so-called "blowpipe spoon" listed in Griffin (1838) contained approximately 2.15 grams of Platinum. The prevalence of these makeshift instruments elsewhere is unknown.
Citation: Chemical recreations: a compendium of experimental chemistry; John Joseph Griffin (1838) p.86
c. April? 1837: Counterfeit Sovereigns mentioned in US news, June 1837
Citation: The Financial Register of the United States, Vol. 1 (Dec. 1837) p.189
In 1837, the British Govt worried about French attempts to corner the Silver market.
The technological improvements of 1815-7 allowed French refiners to cheaply process natural silver alloys, but that refining was contingent upon the price of platinum stills.
The annual Mint refiner's loss in Platinum from retorts costing £ 486.11 was £ 60.76, 2.12% of the total cost to refine 900,000 Ozt.
Grievious error! The author mistakenly compares fine Gold (.9999) at Paris to standard Gold (.900) at London, and Fine Silver to Standard Silver likelwise. At Paris, the Fine Gold (.9999) Price was Fr 3,437.77 by law of 1835.
The London Price of Fine Gold was, in contradiction, 7.27% "dearer" than Paris.
1837: 1 Troy Oz. Gold (Paris mkt, w/prem.) = Fr 107.183 = £4.03 = USD$
1837: 1 Troy Oz. Gold (London, Mint .900 Fine) = £3.8938 = Fr 103.4734
1837: 1 Troy Oz. Gold (London, Mint .999) = £4.3264 = Fr 114.9705
1837: 1 Troy Oz. Silver (Paris mkt.,etc)= Fr 3.88 = £0.1458= USD$
1837: 1 Troy Oz. Silver (London, Mint .925 Fine) = £ 0.2417 = Fr 6.44
1837: 1 Troy Oz. Silver (London, Mint .999) = £0.2613 = Fr 6.965
Citation: Journal of Agriculture, Vol. 8 p.282 (1838)
No comments:
Post a Comment