USA, 1839

1839: Where the USA imported Gold bullion from New Grenada valued at $ 2,496 ($20.6705/Ozt), only 120.75 Ozt Gold were recorded. 

If less than 2% the total weight the imported Colombian Gold Dust, approximately 2.25 Ozt Platinum was residue at the US Mint.

UK, 1839

1840: 1 Troy Ounce Platinum (Semi-Mfg, Ret.) = £ 1.50 

c.1839/40:

Citation: A Manual of Chemistry: Containing the Principal Facts of the Science; John White Webster (1840)


 



William Sturgeon's Fifth Memoir was composed in 1839, so his prices must date from that year. As a Grove's Battery of 10 Elements cost £ 7.0, a single Grove's Element cost £ 0.70 w/ 1 o.5"x 4" = 2" Sq. Foil. Where 50 pairs Platinum Plates 4"(o.5"x 4" = 2" Sq., double-sided = 4" Sq.) = 100 Sq. In.; 1 Grove's Battery (10 Pair) = 20 Sq. In.; 1 Element created .5 Cu. In. gas per minute.
 
Citation: The Annals of Electricity Magnetism and Chemistry and Guardian..., Vol 5, No. 26 August 1840






c. 1839: where a Platinized Silver plate (32 sq. in. surface) sold for £ 0.30;  = 206.4 cm², 3.808 mg. would be necessary to platinize this area/amount of Silver.

Citation: Lectures on Electricity: Comprising Galvanism, Magnetism, Electro-magnetism ...Henry Minchin Noad (1844)



1837: Platina Plate, presumably. A Britannia-Metal Tea Pot sold for £ 0.075








Hammered Platinum should have a Specific Gravity ~22.07

Russia, 1839

1831: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (refined, mkt) = 21.87 руб (Banco) 
1831: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (refined, mkt) = 6.08 руб (Silver Rouble)
1839 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (official Russian Rate) = 17.90 руб (Banco)
1839: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (official Russian Rate) = 17.97 руб (Silver Rouble?)

1839: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (intrinsic; mkt) = 14.93 руб Banco
1839: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (intrinsic; mkt) = 4.07 руб (Silver Rouble)

1839: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (intrinsic; Paris) = Fr 16.27 (USD$ 3.17)
1839: 1 Troy Oz. Silver (intrinsic; Paris) = Fr 4.91 (USD$ 0.88)

The Russian Funt was 13.166 English Troy Ounces.

Translation:

Gradually but ever more so, the price of platina decreased and was, by 1839, Fr 16. per once (poids de marc.) ; (1 Russian Livre = 409.511 Grams, 1 once p.d.m. = 30.594 grams; furthermore, Fr 51.968 and 12.995 Silver Rubles = 1 Vereins-mark Fine Silver = 233.5489 Grammes) ; from that, the Russian Livre of Platinum cost (53.55 Silver Roubles) and the intrinsic value of the Platinum-Ducat is 135.39 Kopeks silver, resulting in a seignorage of 1 Silver Rouble, 64.61 Kopecks per 3 Roubles = 54.87 per cent. against the value of 3 Roubles. The cost of minting should, because of the difficult treatment, about 16 percent that amount.

The Platinum-Ducat is worth: after the numerical value of 3 rubles: 3 Rix. 6 Sgr. 11'52 preufs Pf. 5 fl = 39'36 kr. in 24% fl feet, and after the current internal value of 1 R. Kop 35'39: 1 Rix. 13 Sgr. 9'09 preufs Pf. 2 fl = 33'15 kr. in 24% fl feet.

If we add the value of 1 once p. d. m. at Fr 16, then the value of an association according to the above conditions Platina Mark Rix 32. 28 Sgr. 5'12 preufs Pf. Fl = 57 39'49 kr. in 24% fl feet. - If you take the value of a club fine gold cord to 219 Rix. preufs. = 383 fl 15 kr. in 24% fl feet, fine silver to 14 Rix. or 24% of fl: 1 mark so fine gold worth as much as 6'647Mark Platina and 15'643 f. Mark Silver, and 1 Mark Platina as much as 2'353 Mark f. silver.

But as the Piatinamünzen gradually into the public coffers, where they were accepted in payment of taxes, more and more accumulated: as prescribed by a ukase of 22 Should be June 1845, that marked no Platinum Coin ncreasingly present in all Rent estates over the other changes from six months after which time the acceptance for payment of public funds and to confuse is prohibited, by the way, individuals can, if later zirkulirt of this coin yet them according to mutual agreement to accept .- It follows that no legal value Piatinamünze since 1846 and is now more to be regarded only as a commodity.

1831, 1839:

Citation: Handbuch der münz- wechsel- mass- und gewichts-kunde, oder Erklärung der ...Eduard Döring (1841) p. 402

The market price of Russian platinum metal was found in 1839 in Paris from 15 to 16 francs per ounce poids de marc, while the same was previously against 30 francs for the same ounces This gives (52 francs ~ 13 silver rubles expected) at the price of 15 francs: 50 rubles 19.5 kopeks silver, and at the price of 16 francs: - 53 rubles 54 kopecks silver for the Russian pound platinum metal, so this latter prices in silver with the expense of 10 rubles 77 kopecks silver rubles 31 kopecks a total of 64 pounds of silver, the Russian, consequently, for this metal in the Solotnik 2:45 Platinadukaten, close enough to the actual true worth of a ruble 62.6 kopeks silver, or for fully expected: 1 ruble 63 kopeks, which collects the profit on this coin 37 kopeks to 1 ruble silver coins, thus to 45.66 per cent to 54.1885 Ruhel or silver on the junk Platinamünze; Meanwhile, the. Government adopted a far high platinum value of this is to say nothing while. 

1839: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Russian; Paris mkt) = Fr 16.27 (3.4492 сер. руб.)
1839: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Russian; Paris mkt) = Fr 15.24 (3.2309 сер. руб.)

Where the Фунт is calculated as 13.166 Ozt, a discrepancy occurs:

1839: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Russian intrinsic; Paris mkt) = Fr 16.27 = 4.07 сер. руб.
1839: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Russian intrinsic; Paris mkt) = Fr 15.24 = 3.81 сер. руб.

1839: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Russian intrinsic; Paris mkt) = Fr 16.27 = 4.8865 сер. руб.
1839: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Russian intrinsic; Paris mkt) = Fr 15.24 = 4.6304 сер. руб.

1839: 1 Troy Oz. Pt (Seignourage?) = 0.818 сер. руб. (Fr. 3.27) 
1839: 1 Troy Oz. Pt (Refiner Cost) = 0.818 сер. руб. (Fr. 3.27) 


1831: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (mkt) = 21.8743 руб Banco = Fr. 19.7788
1839: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (mkt) = 13.797 руб Banco = Fr. 16.27

1831: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (mkt) = 5.882 - 6.0762 руб Silver
1839: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (mkt) =                3.710 руб Silver

1839: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Coin, 3 per Ozt, intrinsic) ~4.0673 руб Silver
1839: 1 Troy Oz. Pt (Mint Cost)  ~0.7912 руб Silver = Fr. 0.933 ; £ 0.0378



"Der Marktpreis des russischen Platinmetalls ward in 1839 in Paris zu 15 bis 16 Francs für die Unze poids de marc gestellt, während derselbe früher gegen 30 Francs für dieselbe Unze stand. Dies gibt (52 Francs  ~ 13 Silberrubel gerechnet) bei dem Preise von 15 Francs: 50.195 Rubel Silber und bei dem Preise von 16 Francs: = 53.54 Rubel Silber für das russische Pfund Platinmetall; also zu diesem letztern Preise in Silber mit den Unkosten von 10.77 Rubel Silber, zusammen 64.31 Rubel Silber das russische Pfund, folglich für 2.4271 Solotnik dieses Metalls in dem Platinadukaten, nahe genug den eigentlichen wahren Werth von 1.626 Rubel  Silber, oder für voll gerechnet: 1.63 Rubel, wonach der Gewinn auf diese Münze sich auf 1.37 Rubel Silbergeld, folglich auf 43.66 Procent oder auf 54.1885 Rubel Silber auf das Pfund Platinmünze erhebt; indessen hat die Regierung einen weit höhern Platinwerth dabei angenommen, wogegen weiter nichts zu sagen ist.

Ein Herr Sobolewsky gab vor ungefähr 10 Jahren an, dass man in Russland bei dem Bearbeiten einem Pfunde geschmiedeter Platina an 29 Rubel (in Bankassignationen) wegen Unkosten rechne, welches gegen die vorhin bemerkten 38.76 Rubel oder ca. 39 Rubel noch fast um 10 Rubel (Papiergeld) niedriger zu stehen käme, wie auch leicht denkbar Ist, da sich der Prozess bei der Bearbeitung zur Ausprägung seit 1829 immer mehr vervollkommnet haben soll."

"In 1839, the Paris market price for Russian Platinum was Francs 15.-16. per once poids de marc, whereas previously it had been Fr. 30.  (Assuming Fr. 52 = 13 сер. руб.) this gives the respective prices of Fr. 15: =50.195 сер. руб. and at Fr. 16 : = 53.54 сер. руб. per Russian Pound {Фунт} Platinum, plus the expense of 10.77  сер. руб., to a total of 64.31 сер. руб. per Фунт; consequently, the 2.4271 Solotnik intrinsic to the Platinum Ducat {3 Rouble Coin} is close enough to the actual true value of 1.626 сер. руб, or for fully expected: 1.63 Roubles according to which the profit {seignourage?} on this coin rises to 1.37 сер. руб., thus 43.66 per cent, and hence to 54.1885 сер. руб. {per Фунт} on Platinum coinage; however, the government adopted a far higher value on platinum, and there's nothing more to be said about that.

A Herr Sobolewsky stated about 10 years ago {20!}, that the expense of forging Platinum in Russia cost up to 29 Banco Roubles per Фунт (1831 асс. руб. = ), which compared the previously noticed 38.76 rubles, or about 39 rubles to almost 10 rubles (Paper money) would amount to less, as is also easily conceivable that the process in the processing of expression since 1829 more and more to have perfected.

Citation: Vollständiges tasehenbuch der münz- maass- und gewichts ..., Vol. 2; Christian Noback, Friedrich Eduard Noback p.907

German Price?
 



July 1839:
  


1838 Platina yield: 121.953 Poud = 4,878.1 Funt = 64,225.8 Ozt. = 1,997.6 Kgs.
1839 Platina yield: 91.9123 Poud = 3,676.5 Funt = 48,405 Ozt. = 1,505.5 Kgs.
1840 Platina yield: 94 Poud = 21,359.9 Funt = 49,505 Ozt. = 1,539.77 Kgs.

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


 


1839: Platinum batteries, powering a paddle-boat had 64 batteries w/ 1,152 sq. in. = 18 sq. in. per battery.

Germany, 1839

In this important summary, Breant's factory is producing platinum apparatus at the rate of Fr 26. - 30. "per Unze" (2 Loth. = 0.9398 Troy Oz., 29.23 g)

1839: 1 Troy Ounce Platinum (Paris: Mfg, Bulk) = Fr 26.42 
1839: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Paris: Mfg, Retail) = Fr 30.48
1839: 1 Ozt. Platinum = Thlr 7.45 - 8.51 (USD$ 5.21 - 5.95)

Citation: Allgemeines Organ für Handel und Gewerbe und damit verwandte ..., Vol. 6 (1840)

Possibly dated materials, but no later than 1842.


c.1839: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Coin Rate, intrinsic) ~ Thl 10.00 (USD$ 8.05)

c.1839?:

Citation: Die Handlungswissenschaft für Handlungslehrlinge und Handlungsdiener ...Fr Bohn (1844) p. 101
 

Where the Platinum 3-Rouble (10.353 g. or 2.427083 золотник) the hypothetical rate converts (1828-44) as follows : 1-Rouble = Thlr. 1.076923,

c.1830's: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Coin Rate, intrinsic) = Thl 9.7061 (USD$ 6.74)
c.1830's: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Coin Rate, intrinsic) = руб. 9.01 (USD$ 

   

1839 Exchange Rate.

Germany: Prices & Dates TBE

Where the Braunschweig Thaler (of 24 Groschen) was £ 0.15 and the Loth 14.5875 Grams (.469 Ozt.) the assumed value of 8 Loth (3.752 Ozt) in Gold is £ 15. or respectively:

c.1844? 1 Troy Ounce Gold (German estimate) = Thaler 26.65 (£ 4.)
c.1844? 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (German estimate) = Thaler 6.66 (£ 1.)
c.1844? 1 Troy Oz. Silver (German estimate) = Thaler 1.904 (£ 0.2856)


For 100 Thalers one can purchase: 8 Loth Gold, 32 Loth platinum, or 112 Loth Silver, or 2,000 Loth Mercury; 8 Loth of Gold THEREFORE has the same commercial value such as 32 Loth of platinum, 112 ounces of Silver, etc.

c. 1844??? First Ed. in 1846
Citation: Die schule der chemie, oder. Erster unterricht in der chemie, versinalicht... Julius Adolph Stöckhardt(1850)



c. 1849:

Citation: Skizzen aus dem steinreiche; Franz von Kobell (1850) p.179 

1860: Ein Pfund rohes Platin kostet ungefähr 180 fl., verarbeitet 250 st. Palladium.

Citation: Geschichte der mineralogie: Von 1650-1860; Franz von Kobell (1866) p.562

UK, c.1830s: Palladium Low

The stratospheric price of Palladium had been largely stable in the 20 years since Wollaston's discovery of that noble metal.

1803: 1  Troy  Ounce Palladium  (refined) = £ 24.  (USD$ 109.)

c.1824: 1  Troy  Ounce Palladium  (refined)  ~ £ 25. (USD$ 120.)
 
Citation: The London encyclopaedia: or, Universal dictionary of science ..., Volume 16, edited by Thomas Curtis (1826) p.517

In the 1820s, Palladium was largely unworked, due to its scarcity.  Without access the new Brazilian source, French prices remained higher longer.

c.1835:

On 1833, Johnson's Brazilian supply provided his firm with a wholesale advantage (near monopoly) but glutted the British market.

1835:

In The Correspondence of Michael Faraday: 1832-December  1840, Letter 671, Faraday dismissively cites Mr. Johnson's (wholesale) 1833  price thus: 20/- (20 shillings!)

1833: 1  Troy  Ounce  Palladium  (refined, whols.)  ~ £ 1. (USD$ 4.86) 

1835: 1  Troy  Ounce  Palladium  (refined, retail)  =  £ 2.20   (USD$ 10.67)

A Catastrophic Low Price for Palladium in Pounds Sterling may have occurred around c.1839 (with a 90% Price Drop.)  A higher price in Francs continued abit longer, however.

c.1839: 1  Troy  Ounce  Palladium  (refined, whols.)  = £ 0.70 (USD$ 3.49)

Citation: The Monthly review of dental surgery (1875) p.87

Smee's first edition (1840) did not specify a price point, but his Second Edition offers a "moderately cheap" qualification - the context implies Palladium was less expensive than Platinum. (Subsequent editions retain this statement, then gross misinformation and despite the fact that Palladium became four times more expensive than Platinum.) 

Citation: Elements of electro-metallurgy By Alfred Smee (1843) p.

By the mid-1840s demand again exceeded supply.

1844:

c.1895: an historic low referenced as an aberration, c. 18??

France, 1840

In 1825, Platinum rose to ~Fr 64 in Paris, but as a traded imported commodity at the Price of Gold elsewhere. 

By 1840 the Price of Platinum had fallen 50-60%.

1840: 1 Troy Ounce Gold (Market) = Fr 106.93 (USD$ 20.62)
1840: 1 Troy Ounce Platinum (Mkt) ~ Fr 21. - 32. (USD$ 4.- 7.)
1840: 1 Troy Ounce Silver (Mkt) = Fr 6.91 (USD$ 1.34)

Citation: Encyclopédie du commerçant. Dictionnaire du commerce et des marchandises ; Guillaumin( 1840) p.165

Citation: Encyclopédie du commerçant. Dictionnaire du commerce et des marchandises ; Guillaumin( 1840) p.1764

c.1839: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Semi-Mfg, Bulk ) = Fr 26.41 (USD$ 5.15)
c.1839: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Mfg, Bulk) = Fr 30.48 (USD$ 5.94)
  The price of many of their products is to 26-30 Fr (7-8 Thaler.) per Once (p.d.m.) of two Loths.

Citation: Allgemeines Organ für Handel und Gewerbe und damit verwandte ..., Vol. 6 (April 1840) p.165

From 1820 (?) - 1840, the Paris market price of Platinum notably rose +40%. It's unclear exactly when the refined semi-manufactured retail price was Fr 20.32.

c. 1820: 1 Troy Ounce Platinum in Paris (refined, mkt) = Fr 20. (USD$ 3.61)

1839: 1 Troy Oz. platina (Russian ingot) ~ Fr 15. - 16. (USD$ 3. - 3.20)
c.1840/1: 1 Troy Oz. platina ~ Fr 6. (USD$ 1.20)

c.1842: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Refined, Mkt) = Fr 20.32 (USD$ 3.92)

c.1840: Referring to Platinum coinage discussions of 1815, and noting the withdrawal of the Russian Platinum coinage (1840.) Another reference to Platinum valued at the Price of Gold (before 1800?), perhaps to telescope manufacture?

Citation: Notions elementaires des sciences naturelles et physiques, cours ..., Vol.3; Charles Morren (1843)


c.1843

Citation: Éléments de l'économie politique; Joseph Garnier (1846) p.140

c.1839/40: Referring to Russia's Platinum coinage in the present tense. The reference to periods of lower Platinum prices likely refers to 1830-1 and 1815-20 (although this young chemist would have known this only by hearsay.)

c.1820?: 1 Ozt Platinum (Semi-Mfg, Bulk) = Fr 20.31 (USD$ 3.67)
c.1840: 1 Ozt Platinum (Semi-Mfg, Bulk) = Fr 28.44 (USD$ 5.50)

Citation: Cours élémentaire de chimie générale, inorganique, théorique et ..., Vol. 2; Paulin Louyet (1842), p778

Circa 1843?: reprinting old data!

Citation: Les curieuses origines des inventions et découvertes ; Ernest Soulangel (1846) p.

Citation: Vollständiges Taschenbuch der Münz-, Maass- und Gewichts-Verhältnisse ... ; Christian Noback, et al (1850) p.907

The Specific Gravity of refined Platinum Sponge 20.33, unrefined
Platinum Sponge 21.53, rolled Platinum 22.06, melted Platinum 20.98

 








mmmmmm mmmm

1838, UK : Glasgow Chemist's Catalogue

1838: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (semi-mfg., whols.)  = £ 2.20 ($USD  11.0)

Thin Platinum foil (slips) 1" sq. cost £ 0.033 in 1838, whereas the foil price was -25% cheaper in 1877. The 1838 semi-manufactured Platinum price may be ascertained, accordingly.

1838: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (semi-mfg., whols.)  = £ 2.20 ($USD  11.0)

From 1834-1839, the retail prices of simple platinum manufactures was stable.  Consider the price of a "platinum capsule."  Contemporary Harvard University chemistry text books (printed in Boston) carried these same London prices in advertisements.

Citation: Chemical recreations: a series of amusing and instructive experiments, which ... John J. Griffin, 1834. p.13

Citation: A manual of chemistry: containing the principal facts of the science, in the ... By John White Webster (1839) p.559

A similar utensil cost "about 14s" in 1877, a 100% increase from 1839.  Presumably, the labor cost accounted for the price difference, if not simply retail/wholesale.

1838: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (intrinsic, mkt.)  ~ £ 1.0 ($USD 4.86)

1839: Russian Platinum Coin, unknown rate (per Troy ounce?)
Citation: M'Culloch's Universal gazetteer: Dictionary, geographical, statistical ... John Ramsay McCulloch, Daniel Haskel (1844) p. 782