France, 1896

Where the scrap weight of Platinum counterfeit Fr 20 coin was ~0.2074 Ozt.
  

c.1896?: 1 Troy Ounce Platinum (Paris: Scrap, Bid) = Fr 38.57 (USD$ 7.52)
  These counterfeit Fr. 20 coins of platinum are, of course, cut at the counters of major governments. The merchants then buy the metal for 8 francs.

Citation: Revue suisse de numismatique, Vol. 7 Ed. Paul Strœhlin, E. Demole (1898) p.417





1896: 1 Troy Oz. platina (Russian ore, @ Paris?) ~ Fr 46.66 (USD$ 9.03)
1896: 1 Troy Ounce Platinum (Paris Mkt) = Fr 56. (USD$ 10.95) 
1896: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (US Dealer, Whols.) ~Fr. 80.32 - 120.5 (USD$ 15.55 - 23.33)
1897: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Paris Mkt) = Fr 62.21 (USD$ 12.13)



Citation: Bulletin de statistique et de législation comparée, Vol. 28, Issue 2, Ministère de l'économie et des finances, p.639




Carbon!!!
1896: 1 Troy Ounce Platinum (Mfg: Light Filament) = Fr 2,488.28 - 3,732.42 
.... ($ 481.55 - 722.33)

The most expensive product in the world. - If asked to identify which product made ​​the most expensive in the world, it is difficult to imagine that these are the filaments of carbon that is used for incandescent lamps is however that says electric YÉtincelle. Most are manufactured in Paris and out of the hands of one man. This is the program that takes place the wholesale; but by delaying the price of his goods to the kilogram, we see that the lamp filaments of 20 candle-power worth 80,000 francs. kilogram, and lamps 3 candle-power 120,000 francs. These first have a diameter of 20 thousandths of a millimeter, and the other half and 4 mils.

Each other and are very much like hair, with the difference that, when touched, they do not bend. They are very resistant, but quite fragile when pressure transverse forces. This is because in the production of lamps, in one case a lot. Those lamps 3 candles are so light that it takes to get 3 million to the weight of one kilogram. Since the length of each is 0m, 10, the total length is 300 kilometers. The strand of platinum used in reticles glasses are much thinner, but they are manufactured with a ductile material instead of being with charcoal. The relatively prodigious price of these filaments is the multiplicity of manipulations to which they are subjected, and which are so delicate that the price of 120 francs per gram or 120 000 francs per kilogram is not exaggerated. The artist manufacturer does not employ workers, and it may be sufficient only to commands that happen to him in the most distant countries. This is certainly the most original and least known Parisian industries.

Citation: Cosmos: revue des sciences et de leurs applications, Vol. 36; Abbé Moigno (François Napoléon Marie) 4/24/1897 p.513