USA, 1873: Dental Price for Platinum; Battery Platinum

1873:  1 Troy Ounce Platinum (France: Scrap Bid, Bulk) = ℳ  19.9735 (~$ 4.75; USD$ 5.55)
1873/4: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (France: Refined Ingot, Mkt) = $ 5.87 ; USD$ 6.89)

1873: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Germany: Est Whols, Unmfg) =  $ 5.82 - 6.04

1873: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Germany: Mfg, Bulk) ~ $ 6. - 6.22 ; USD$ 7.2353

In J.E. Smith's Manual of Telegraphy (1873) see p. 55 'Battery Material' for L.G. Tillotson's New York price for platinum strips (of unknown dimensions) : $0.80 (small) and $0.90 (large) for a Grove Battery ($1.75)  At the currency rate, the large strip cost $1.02 - nearly identical to the 1854 Kent Catalogue.  Presuming the same dimensions and quality as earlier catalogues' batteries (a 3.5" x 0.75" Platinum strip may be estimated @:  0.0833 troy ounces (40 grains) @ $0.383 per sq. in.) the Smith catalogue price is USD$ 12./oz., identical to 1872 Benjamin Catalogue.

1873: 1 Troy Ounce Platinum (Ret.: Semi-mfg, battery strip) ~ $ USD 12.

The recollection of a dentist, decades later, does match 1873 prices.  The wholesale price of platina might have been around $5./oz (USD$ 5.86) in 1873, but published catalogue prices in 1872 suggest a much higher Gold rate for refined Platinum.  In 1873, the European Scrap Rate was about $ 5.00/oz., but not in US currency.

Dental Platinum known as 'French Plate' was a Silver-Platinum alloy, 66% Ag/34% Pt.



An even less costly French dental alloy 'Platine au titre' contained 17% - 34% Pt.



1873: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum Alloy (Ag/Pt, 66/34) = $ 5.05
1872: 1 Troy Oz. Silver (Whols./Ret: .999 Fine) = $ 2.50
1872: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Whols./Ret. .999 Fine) = $ 10.

Citation: The Western Dental Journal, Vol. 24 (1910) p.211

1873: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Scrap, Bid) = $ 5.00

1873: 1 Troy Oz. Silver (Scrap, Bid) = $ 1.20
1873: 1 Troy Oz. Gold (18k Scrap, Bid) = $ 15.00 
1873: 1 Troy Oz. Gold (Scrap, Bid) = $ 21.00 

Citation: The Dental Register, Vol. 27 No.12 (12/1873) p.192 

Based upon assays by the Mint Master Eckfeldt (c.1873), the "Platina" dental alloys were shown to contain not Platinum but Tin.

Citation: The Dental Cosmos: A Monthly Record Of Dental Science, Vol.14, No.12 (12/1873) p.192




Platinum counterfeit Double-Eagles, constructed :   



Presumably, the dentist refers to the SS White Dental manufactory, which may have purchased bulk platina or Platinum at the lowest and best-possible market prices.






 


US Imports: