February 21, 2013

Colombia, 1878

Robert Blake White was resident 17 years in Colombia ; he voyaged up the River Atrato in 1878.  As reported to the Royal Geographical Society five years later, the local quote for Colombian platina was nearly half the London market price for imported ore.  (The actual bulk price paid to small local producers, in trade goods, was likely about half the Source Spot; merchant trade set the market, not specie.)

Where the Colombian peso = 4s. but export transaction were estimated in Fr. 5 (Ag coin units), platina ore @82.5% from Chocó cost a maximum:

Per Libra (14.792 Ozt.) ~ C$ 44.50 (£ 8.75; Fr. 222.50; USD$ 42.95), or 
Per Kilogram (32.15 Ozt) C$ 96.5 (£ 19.; Fr. 482.50; USD$ 93.)


1878: 1 Troy Oz. platina (Nóvita Spot: 82.5% Ore) = C$ 3.  
(Fr. 15., ~£ 0.60 ; USD$ 2.90)

1878: 1 Troy Oz. Pt (Nóvita Spot: .999 Ore) = C$ 3.64 

(Fr. 18.18, ~£ 0.73 ; USD$ 3.52)


1878: 1 Troy Oz. platina (Colombian .999, w/postage) ~ C.$ 4.311 (USD$ 3.601)

The Mexican re-export rate was 44% higher than the Colombian Source-Price.
 
1878: 1 Troy Oz. platina (Mexico: ore, re-export) = $ 3.24
1878: 1 Troy Oz. platina (Rus ore: London, bulk) ~ £ 0.96 (USD$ 5.)
1878: 1 Troy Oz. platina (London, whols.) ~ £ 1.13 (USD$ 5.50)



Citation: Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society and Monthly Record ..., Vol. 5 (May, 1883) p.258


The Colombian platina purity was rated 89%




Postage: Apparently, postage to NYC was (C$ 0.34 + 0.60)  ~C$ 0.94 per Ounce.




Ecuador, 1877/8

Citation: Geografía y geología del Ecuador; publicada por órden del supremo gobierno ...Theodor Wolf (1892)











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