May 10, 2010

UK, 1845/6: London Science Catalogue Prices

In 1845, refined & manufactured Platinum retailed 4x higher than refined Silver and 1/6 the Price of Fine Gold. The wholesale ratio Pt>Ag appears the same.

1843: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (semi-mfg, whols.) = £ 1.20 - 1.75 (USD$ 5.76 - 8.38)

1845: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (85% ingot, Mkt) = £ 1.50 (USD$ 7.29)
1846: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (85% ingot, Mkt) = £ 1.60 (USD$ 7.78)

1846: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Semi-Mfg, Trade) = £ 1.75 (USD$ 8.51)
1846: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Mfg, Trade) = £ 2.10 (USD$ 10.21)

1846: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Semi-/Mfg, Retail) ~ £ 1.85 - 2.35 (USD$ 9. - 11.42)

1846: 1 Troy Oz. Silver (Sterling) = £ 0.25
1846: 1 Troy Oz. Silver (pure) = £ 0.28
1846: 1 Troy Oz. Silver (mfg, retail) = £ 0.45

Citation: The British quarterly review, Vol. 4 ; Robert Vaughan (1846) p.91



Refined Platinum was sold 6x higher than Silver ore.



Refined Platinum was sold retail about half the 'common price' of Gold:

Citation: A technological dictionary: explaining the terms of the arts, sciences ...W. M. Buchanan (1846) p.572




1845: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (semi-mfg, Retail) = £ 2.00 (USD$ 9.74)
1845: 1 Troy Oz. Silver (semi-mfg, Retail) = £ 0.50 (USD$ 2.44)
1845: 1 Troy Oz. Gold (semi-mfg, Retail) = £ 12.00 (USD$ 58.32)

Citation: A treatise on optical drawing instruments. Also A method of preserving, Charles Varley (1845) pp. 96,101








Artinsal platino-silver vase, c.1844: exorbitant rate or weight.


Newman's 1845 listed no price for Platinum, but the Platinum blowpipe was 2.78x more expensive than the Silver. It would be a mistake to think these different PM items were the same size or weight. Adjusting for mass/weight (2.05x greater for Pt) Silver = 10.49 grams per cubic centimeter and Platinum = 21.5 grams per cubic centimeter.

Less volatile manufactured Silver prices known, the Silver blowpipe weighed <56 grams (to perhaps an ounce and a half, troy) and the Platinum 'Wollaston's Pocket blowpipe' likely weighed <37 grams (to a troy ounce or so.)

1845: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (mfg, whols) = £ 2.10
1845: 1 Troy Oz. Silver (mfg, 9s. 9d. Stowe's Catalogue price) = £ 0.50

Citation: A treatise on optical drawing instruments. Also A method of preserving, (1845) pp. 96,101



Newman's 1852 & 1856 Catalogues had identical prices for "Platinum Plates"; likewise estimated, ~ 2 troy oz. or less.

1856: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (semi-mfg, whols.) ~ £ 1.60

1852:





















c. 1845/6:
 

British Platinum exports to France:

 



c. 1845: true, full-weight Sovereign's Specific Gravity = 17.5357



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