Russia, 1864

Assuming a Poud Rate of 2,275 руб Kr.

1864: 1 Ozt. Pt (SPb, Bulk Ore @SG 21.5) = 4.32 руб Kr.
1864: 1 Ozt. Pt (+Assumed Refined Cost руб Kr. 1.1156) = 5.43 руб Kr.

1864: platina yield: 24.225 Poud = 969. Funt = 12,758. Ozt. = 396.82 Kgs.


Citation: A Treatise on Chemistry: Metals; Henry Enfield Roscoe, Carl Schorlemmer (1879)


Citation: Accounts and Papers of the House of Commons 1868 , Vol. 59 (1869) p.313

Philadelphia, 1825-1864

Philadelphia, Price of Flour per barrel




Annual Average Export Price, Various US Ports
 

UK, 1864

1863: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (SPb: Russian ingot, whols.) < £ 1.10 ($ 5.36)
1863: 1 Ozt. platina (whols., Colombian ore) < £ 1.10 ($ 5.36)

1864: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Mfg., Whols.) = £ 1.60
1865: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Mfg., Ret.) = £ 2.00

The 4 oz. capsule weighed 900 grains, so £ 1.60 per Troy Ounce (presumably.)

Citation: Twelfth Report of the Science & Art Dept. of the Committee of Council on Education, Vol. 12 1865: p.259




c.1864: 1 Ozt. Platinum (UK, Mfg.) = £ 1.54 - 1.65 


 





Presumably, the tariffed platina price (Russian ingot, Colombian ore) ; actual spot-prices must have been lower.Citation : Ures̓ dictionary of arts, manufactures and mines, Vol. 3 (1867) p.443

USA: Hiram M. Raynor, Dealer (1862-1890)

Presumably the son of Hiram Raynor (of Hempstead, Long Island), the retired publisher/envelope vendor (of H.&.S. Raynor), Hiram M. Raynor was established by 1862 as the junior partner in a Manhattan dental mercantile:

November, 1862:
 

Spring, 1864:
 

1864:
 

1865:
 

Trow's New York City Directory (for 1871/2) and Goulding's New York City Directory (1877) :
 
1871: American self-promotion often included dubious claims of "firsts" (ignoring the Malvern Works established in 1842 and E.A.L. Roberts in 1858) :

Reported May 1890:

Domestic Platinum mines.—In view of the prominent place that platinum has taken in the electrical manufacturing industry, and more especially because of the recent advance in its price, it is a relief to know that we are now to have the material from domestic mines. Mr. H. M. Raynor, well known as one of the oldest of manufacturers, has sold all his dies and his machinery for platinum wire drawing to Jas. Shawel & Co., 29 John Street, who are now able to produce wire of any gauge. Mr. Raynor has gone into platinum mining in the West. The mines are yielding large quantities of first grade platinum. It would be well for the manufacturers of platinum goods in this country to seize this opportunity for purchasing the domestic product.

1892:
For this column I am indebted to the kindness of Mr. HM Raynor, the pioneer of New York in the platinum trade, who courteously gave me the invoice prices of his imports of plate and sponge from 1867 to 1890. To these prices three per

Germany, 1864: PGMs

Presumably, Heraeus was marketing to the Continent and the French PGM market.  Scrap was presumably taken in exchange for manufacturers only, a loss-leader for the business.

1864: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (refined, unmanufactured) = Fr 31.10 (~USD$ 15.61)

1864: 1 Ozt. Platinum (refined, unmfg.) = Thl 8.29 (~USD$ 12.84)

1864: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Scrap/ bought) ~ Fr 24.88 (~USD$ 12.49)

1864: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Scrap/ bought) = Thl 6.64 (~USD$ 10.27)

1864: 1 Ozt. Palladium (pure) = Fr 186.60 (~USD$ 93.66)

1864: 1 Ozt. Iridium (pure) = Fr 124.40 (~USD$ 62.44)

1864: 1 Ozt. Rhodium (pure) = Fr 279.90 (~USD$ 140.5)

1864: 1 Ozt. Ruthenium (pure) = Fr 373.20 (~USD$ 187.32)

Citation: Journal für praktische Chemie, Vol. 91-92; Otto Linné Erdmann, Chemische Gesellschaft in der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik (1864) p. 256

Assuming a commercial weight Bavarian Loth weighing 0.5627 Ozt, 

1864: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Mfg.) ~ Fl. 17.77 (~USD$ )





1863: 1 Ozt. Platinum (refined, mkt) = Thl 9.33 (~ USD$ 10.64)

c.1863

UK, 1862/1864: Platinum Still

1862: 1 Troy Ounce Platinum (refined, retail) = £ 1.20 (USD$ 6.67)

1862: 1 Troy Ounce Platinum (refined, wholesale?) = £ 1.18 (USD$ 6.57)

1862: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (refined,whols.) = £ 1.35 - 1.50 (USD$ 7.51 - 8.34)

Boiler: £ 1,500. (1,250 ounces, troy?)

Boiler: £ 350. (291.7 ounces, troy?)

Boiler: £ 120. (100 ounces, troy?)

Citation: Handbook to the industrial department of the International exhibition, 1862, By Robert Hunt (186?) p.22

1862, 1864:

1864:

1868:

USA, 1861-4: US Civil War Price Higher (War Materiel)

Platinum was in great demand during the war, a valuable & rare commodity utilized in munitions by both Union & Confederate forces. Although I have not found any war price records specific to the PGM, Platinum imports were almost certainly priced in & purchased with Gold (not Greenbacks or Confederate currency.) Imported Platinum wares were likewise dutiable in Gold. Late 1863 - 1864 may have witnessed Platinum prices at or near the exorbitant price of Gold, applicable to all or most European manufactures/imports, higher rates across the board.

This peculiar currency circumstance explains why Platinum prices disappeared from US catalogues & advertisements, replaced by "market rates" from and requests to "pay in gold." The fluctuations on the downside (in 1865 & 1866) must have been equally dramatic.

An 1866 textbook from MIT professors explicitly indicates Gold was 16x the Price of Silver and 2x the price of Platinum. Platinum had been sold to the trade for about 1/4 the Price of Gold, in 1862. The declaration that Spot Platinum was half the Price of Gold (in 1865) establishes a ratio and all but confirms this precious metal had risen much higher and faster than many other commodities, including Gold.

In the Summer of 1867, a Richmond, Virginia dentist recalled material shortages: the January 1865 price of Gold Foil (22 kt?) was "$ 64 in Gold Coin" (not Greenbacks: ) or in Confederate currency, then C$ 3,840.  Certainly, a different price-inflation persisted in each city in these years, 1860-1866.



Citation: Submarine warfare, offensive and defensive ; John Sanford Barnes


mid-1863: Platinum reportedly used in (Union?) gun vents:


With specific reference to quicksilver (the commodity w./ highest recorded inflation) Platinum also became most dear and essential for the war effort. This fact was not forgotten, and by the onset of the Great War (1917), US Gov't. officials knew to immediately fix Platinum prices and nationalize Pt stocks.

Citation: A critical examination of our financial policy during the Southern rebellion; Simon Newcomb (1865)

1867: wartime reference? NYC: Platinum "more costly than Gold"

Citation: The New England Farmer, Vol. 1 10/1867, p.481


1862-1865: High premium on PMs in USA




Commodities During the War:

1858 - 62:

1863:

1863:


1863:


1864:

April, 1864:

c. 1860:

1865: @ Gold Rate

Citation: "Dental Surgery as applied in the Armies of the Late Confederate States" W. Leigh Burton in American Journal of Dental Science, Vol. 1, No. 4 (August, 1867) , p.182