USA, 1850: Hawkins' Gold Pen was the iPhone of its Day (Rhodium-tipped)

Best-grade Iridium granules was employed in the tips of these pens.  The manufacturer may have encouraged this misunderstanding, to (protectively) influence the price.

There Iridosmine market price record is unknown. The points were natural alloy grains, graded & sorted then manufactured (ground & polished at the pen factory.)  "Pure" is therefore a dubious claim, but purity or specific gravity was probably less important than form.  Could the worst grains have been merely overpriced platina?

c.1855: 1 Troy Ounce Iridosmine (whols., best-grade)  =USD$ 250.
c.1855: 1 Troy Oz. Iridosmine (whols., worst-grade)  =USD$ 5.-25
 
c.1851: 1 Troy Oz. Iridosmine (whols., best-grade)  =USD$ 120.
c.1850: 1 Troy Oz. Iridosmine (whols., best-grade)  =USD$ 100.
c.1850: 1 Troy Oz. Iridosmine (whols., avg)  =USD$ 100.
c.1834-50: 1 Troy Oz. Iridosmine (whols., better-grade)  =USD$ 30.-75.

1835: 1 Troy Oz. Iridium ("pure" retail)  =USD$ 145.50

c. 1840?: 1 Troy Oz. Iridium (whols.)  =USD$ 100.

1845: 1 Troy Oz. Iridium (whols.)  =USD$ 15. - 20.

1847: 1 Troy Oz. Iridium (whols., ungraded)  =USD$ 7.- 10.

1850: 1 Troy Oz. Iridium (whols.)  =USD$ 50.

1857: 1 Troy Oz. Iridium (ore, best grain)  = £ 8.0 (USD$ 39.12)

1857: 1 Troy Oz. Iridium (ore, worst grain)  = £ 0.75 (USD$ 3.67)

Rhodium tips, not Iridium, in other pens.

 

c.1840?: 1 Troy Oz. Iridosmine (Ore, "Very Best" Whols.) = USD$ 100.

c.1844: 1 Ozt. Iridosmine (Ore, "Best" Whols.) = USD$ 30.
c.1844: 1 Ozt. Iridosmine (Ore, "Good" Whols.) = USD$ 20.
c.1844: 1 Ozt. Iridosmine (Ore, "Good" Whols.) = USD$ 15.
  
c.1849:  1 Ozt. Iridosmine (Ore, "Best" Whols.) = USD$ 75.
c.1849:  1 Ozt. Iridosmine (Ore, "Better" Whols.) = USD$ 50.
c.1849:  1 Ozt. Iridosmine (Ore, "Good" Whols.) = USD$ 30.
  
c. March 1849:
Citation: The Western Literary Messenger, Vol. 14 April 1849 p84

c.1851?:  1 Ozt. Iridosmine (Ore, "Very Best" Whols.) = USD$ 120.

c.1853?:  1 Ozt. Iridosmine (Ore, "Better" Whols.) = USD$ 40.
c.1853?:  1 Ozt. Iridosmine (Ore, "Good" Whols.) = USD$ 30.
c.1853?:  1 Ozt. Iridosmine (Ore, "Fair" Whols.) = USD$ 20. 
c.1853?:  1 Ozt. Iridosmine (Ore, "Poor" Whols.) = USD$ 12.
 
c.1852/3?