1849: 1 Troy Ounce Platinum (German Scrap, Mkt) = USD$ 6.15
1853: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Prussia: Scrap, Bid) = USD$ 3.745 ($3.21 - $4.28)
1853: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Prussia: Wire/Ingot, Retail) = USD$ 9.09
1853: Troy Oz. Platinum (Bav.:Semi-Mfg, Producer) = USD$ 7.24 (Fl. 17.575)
1853: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (UK: Semi-Mfg, Ret.) = USD$ 6.81 (£ 1.40)
c.1852/3: 1 Troy Oz. Pt (California Mkt: Whols.) = USD $ 5.
c. 1852: 1 Troy Oz. Pt (US Mkt, Retail) ~ USD $ 8.
1853: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Boston: Wire/Ingot, Ret.) = $ 10.
1853: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (USA: Foil, Ret.) = $ 14.40
1853: 1 Troy Oz. Palladium (50/50 alloy, w/Silver) ~ $ 28.80
Two Claxton & Wightman Catalogues from 1835 are included in Joseph Brown's Advertiser of Philosophical & Astronomical Apparatus, Issued Quarterly at his Manufactory.... (Boston: Dutton & Wentworth, 1835.) Both list "Platina Wire, Sponge and Foil" (p.11; p.3) but no prices are given.
Dates indicate this edition was printed in late 1852 or early 1853. Wightman's 1846 edition listed no Platina/Platinum for sale; this edition prominently declared Platinum items, although the Grove's Battery had a cheaper Platinized substitution. All Grove Batteries in USD$ at this lower rate may be presumed w/Platinized Plate. Foil was 40% higher than wire, perhaps for increased battery demand.
US Platinum was about one-third more expensive than in Europe, after exchange. By comparison with the 1853 W.& S. Jones Catalogue, the US platinum prices was 39-41% more expensive than the British price. By comparison with the 1853 Lerebours et Secretan Catalogue, the US platinum prices was 9-35% more expensive than the French price.
1853: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Prussia: Scrap, Bid) = USD$ 3.745 ($3.21 - $4.28)
1853: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Prussia: Wire/Ingot, Retail) = USD$ 9.09
1853: Troy Oz. Platinum (Bav.:Semi-Mfg, Producer) = USD$ 7.24 (Fl. 17.575)
1853: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (UK: Semi-Mfg, Ret.) = USD$ 6.81 (£ 1.40)
c.1852/3: 1 Troy Oz. Pt (California Mkt: Whols.) = USD $ 5.
c. 1852: 1 Troy Oz. Pt (US Mkt, Retail) ~ USD $ 8.
1853: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Boston: Wire/Ingot, Ret.) = $ 10.
1853: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (USA: Foil, Ret.) = $ 14.40
1853: 1 Troy Oz. Palladium (50/50 alloy, w/Silver) ~ $ 28.80
Two Claxton & Wightman Catalogues from 1835 are included in Joseph Brown's Advertiser of Philosophical & Astronomical Apparatus, Issued Quarterly at his Manufactory.... (Boston: Dutton & Wentworth, 1835.) Both list "Platina Wire, Sponge and Foil" (p.11; p.3) but no prices are given.
Dates indicate this edition was printed in late 1852 or early 1853. Wightman's 1846 edition listed no Platina/Platinum for sale; this edition prominently declared Platinum items, although the Grove's Battery had a cheaper Platinized substitution. All Grove Batteries in USD$ at this lower rate may be presumed w/Platinized Plate. Foil was 40% higher than wire, perhaps for increased battery demand.
US Platinum was about one-third more expensive than in Europe, after exchange. By comparison with the 1853 W.& S. Jones Catalogue, the US platinum prices was 39-41% more expensive than the British price. By comparison with the 1853 Lerebours et Secretan Catalogue, the US platinum prices was 9-35% more expensive than the French price.
Citation: Descriptive catalogue of chemical apparatus, chemicals and pure reagents (1853), Wightman, p.17
Grove's Battery indicates a Platinised Plate, not pure Platinum, which explains the much lower cost than English models. Smee's Battery is 25-67% more expensive than the 1849 English catalogue. Grove's Battery with pure Platinum at the same markup would have cost USD $9. -12.
Refined Platinum sold at $10. wholesale in 1849., ore @ purity estimated at half the price.
c. 1853: 1 Ozt. Pt (CA Spot?: Intrinsic, .999) = USD $ 5.
Citation: The Farmer's companion and horticultural gazette, Vol. 3-4 ; Charles Fox, Charles Betts, et al. (1854) p.154
California Platina: 43.5% Pt, ~34.5% Ir, ~14.5% Os, 0.3% Rh, 0.5% Pd, 1.3% Au, etc.
Cititation: United States commission to the Paris Exposition, 1867:
Where Gold dust was paid @ $16./oz in 1852, platina was valued at half the POG.
c. 1852: 1 Troy Oz. platina (retail) = USD $ 10
c.1849-1850:
The Placer Times was the first newspaper published in Sacramento, CA,
from April 28, 1849 until June 7, 1850 when it ceased publication.
The San Francisco Placer Times and other variations continued publishing beyond 1853, the presumed date for the Platinum prices in various Mints & refineries.
The author dismisses Rhodium as essentially worthless, a curious supposition, but the cost of Platinum manufacture was also much lower than suggested. Very dubious or suspect information offered to miners.
1853?: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Refined; European price) = USD$ 6.32 - 6.75
1849: 1 Troy Oz. platina (ore; California price) = ~USD$ 3.
The San Francisco Placer Times and other variations continued publishing beyond 1853, the presumed date for the Platinum prices in various Mints & refineries.
The author dismisses Rhodium as essentially worthless, a curious supposition, but the cost of Platinum manufacture was also much lower than suggested. Very dubious or suspect information offered to miners.
1853?: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Refined; European price) = USD$ 6.32 - 6.75
1849: 1 Troy Oz. platina (ore; California price) = ~USD$ 3.
Citation: The Mining magazine and journal of geology, mineralogy, metallurgy ..., Volume 2 (April 1854) p.469
c.1853: Platinum's depreciated value (1828-40) cited as cause for sudden demonetization in the 1840s.
1853: 1 Troy Oz. Pt (Theoretical Silver Rate: Coined) = $ 7.02
New York Exhibition, 1853:
Saxton's deep-sea metallic thermometer: ~$60.
In the early 1850s "Platina" was defined by the (US) Treasury Dept., which unequivocally stated no crude ore was imported to New York or the United States. Declared imports from all destinations were therefore wire, sheet, ingot or other (semi-) refined products (manufactured or unmanufactured.)
Platinum imports valued by package; ~$ 536./ea.; @ the 1852 wholesale rate? Each package would weight ~107 ozt.
Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations, 7/1853:
Assuming the same weight as 1844 (40 kgs), a Platinum Still for USD$ 12,000. would have included 30% tariff and all transport expense plus profit, costing ~55% more in NYC. (Assumed original mfg price: Fr. 40,000. = $7,767 - 7,805.)
1853: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (NYC: Mfg, Import, Bulk) = $ 9.33
1853: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Paris: Mfg, Export, Bulk) = $ 6.04 - 6.07
A large quantity of Osmiridium ore (falsely called "Platinum') was found in California late 1852/3, exciting speculation and depressing platina prices briefly; it was found to be useless to (Iridium) pen manufacturers and most Platinum-ore consumers alike.
Citation: Report on the Geology of the Coast Mountains: And Part of the Sierra Nevada, Embracing Their Industrial Resources in Agriculture and Mining (1854)
'Better-grade platina' (OR: c.1857) : 53% Pt, ~27.5% Ir, ~12% Os
- 57% Pt, ~29% Ir, ~12.5% Os
'Better-grade platina' (OR: c.1857) : 57.5% Pt, ~22% Ir,~ 9% Os
See: Platinum ores from California (Weil, 1859)
'Avg.-grade platina' (OR: 1913) : 33% Pt, ~12% Ir, ~5% Os
March 1853:
In Cambridge MA, chemistry sets by Wenceslaus Batka of Prague were sold for $8.
Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations, 7/1853:
Assuming the same weight as 1844 (40 kgs), a Platinum Still for USD$ 12,000. would have included 30% tariff and all transport expense plus profit, costing ~55% more in NYC. (Assumed original mfg price: Fr. 40,000. = $7,767 - 7,805.)
1853: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (NYC: Mfg, Import, Bulk) = $ 9.33
1853: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Paris: Mfg, Export, Bulk) = $ 6.04 - 6.07
A large quantity of Osmiridium ore (falsely called "Platinum') was found in California late 1852/3, exciting speculation and depressing platina prices briefly; it was found to be useless to (Iridium) pen manufacturers and most Platinum-ore consumers alike.
Citation: Report on the Geology of the Coast Mountains: And Part of the Sierra Nevada, Embracing Their Industrial Resources in Agriculture and Mining (1854)
'Better-grade platina' (OR: c.1857) : 53% Pt, ~27.5% Ir, ~12% Os
- 57% Pt, ~29% Ir, ~12.5% Os
'Better-grade platina' (OR: c.1857) : 57.5% Pt, ~22% Ir,~ 9% Os
See: Platinum ores from California (Weil, 1859)
'Avg.-grade platina' (OR: 1913) : 33% Pt, ~12% Ir, ~5% Os
March 1853:
In Cambridge MA, chemistry sets by Wenceslaus Batka of Prague were sold for $8.
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