Russia, 1843

1843 Platina Yield: 213.757 Poud =  8,550.3 Funt = 112,574 Ozt. = 3,501.4 Kgs



Citation: Commercial Statistics;  John MacGregor (1844) p.755


The purity of Russian platina was presumed to be 65% (1843)


1843 Platina Yield:  ~203.35 Poud =  8,134 Funt = 107,094 Ozt. = 3,331 Kgs



Also, but likely in error, another Yield in German Thaler estimation for 1843:

1843 platina yield: 200.377 Poud = 8,015.1 Funt = 105,527.6 Ozt. = 3,282.3 Kgs = 14,039.15 Cologne Gold Marks (@ 7.51667 Ozt.) = 14,008.1 Berlin Gold Marks (@ 7.533 Ozt.)

= 7,019.57 Cologne Pfund Marks (@ 15.03 Ozt.) = 7,005. Berlin Pfund Marks (@ 15.06 Ozt.) ; so "8,028 Marks" = 60,307.5 Ozt. is a major discrepancy in calculation.

Citation: Neuer Schauplatz der Bergwerkskunde, Vol. 12 (1848) p.57

Donald MacDonald's explanation ignores the large Colombian export to Europe before 1843, c. 1840/1.

The issue of the rouble coins went on satisfactorily under Kankrin's watchful guidance and under the stimulus of this demand the output of the mines increased rapidly to some 60,000 ounces in 1830, reaching a record of about 120,000 ounces in 1843 but then declining rapidly. This was occasioned by a serious fall in the demand for platinum outside Russia, causing a fall in price in the western markets and a drop in production in Colombia. In 1843 the output there was only 1,600 ounces and in due course the price fell to a level lower than the exchange value of the Russian platinum coins. Kankrin, alarmed at the prospect of extensive counterfeiting, put a severe limitation on the amounts coined and strengthened his customs regulations at the frontiers.


Citation: Transactions of the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy, Vol. 21 (1912) p.650



1854: Approximately correct yield, with suspect valuation £ 14./lb. avd = 

1843?: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (1854 Est.??) = £ 0.96




1843, not 1848:



1843: 1 Troy Ounce Pt (intrinsic?) = Preuss. Thlr. 6.8572 (USD$ 4.697)
1843: 1 Troy Oz Pt (intrinsic?) ~ 5.363 руб (USD$ 4.70)

1842: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (pure, intrinsic, mkt) = USD$ 6.80

c.1840: 1 Troy Oz. platina (Low: importer's bulk) ~ USD$ 2.60

1841/2: 1 Troy Oz. retail platina = USD$ 4.39

Notably different, the English wholesale-retail price was stable from 1831-1855.

1843: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (English catalogue: semi-mfg.) = £ 1.20 (USD$ 5.76) 


Here, the Source-Spot for unprocessed 'Platinum Black' was confused with a Paris Price for refined Iridium (selling much higher.)  But from 1834, it appears the Spot-Price for Platinum Black had fallen -62.22%


1834: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum-Black (SPb: residue) = руб Acc. 7.29; руб Ag 2.054

1843: 1 Troy Oz. 'Platinum-Black' (SPb mkt) = ~руб Acc. 2.83; руб Kr 0.776



The Great Demidov Platinum Nugget was found in Niznhi-Tagilsk in 1843. It weighed 23 Funt, 48 Zolotniks (9.624 Kgs, 25.7836 Troy Pounds, 309.4 Ozt.)