USA, 1860: Ritchie's Catalogue (Boston); Lazell, Marsh & Gardiner's Catalogue

E.S. Ritchie & Sons Illustrated Catalogue of Philosophical Instruments, and School Apparatus (1860) offered Troughton and Simms sextant for USD$ 60., the quadrant for $15. 





1858: 1 Troy Ounce Platinum (Mfg: Spoon) = USD $ 28.80
1858: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Mfg: Crucible) = USD $ 14.40
1858: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Semi-Mfg: Foil) = USD $ 12.00
1858: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Semi-Mfg: Wire) = USD $ 9.60
1858: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Scrap, SOLD) = USD $ 8.00

1859: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Mfg: Spoon) = USD $ 28.80 
1859: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Mfg: Crucible) = USD $ 14.40 
1859: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Semi-Mfg: Foil) = USD $ 12.00 
1859: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Semi-Mfg: Wire) = USD $ 9.60  
1859: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Scrap, SOLD) = USD $ 8.00

Lazell, Marsh & Gardiner's Prices current of foreign and domestic drugs (1860):

p.16 "Platina, capsules........ 0 03 [cents] grain
[Do.] Crucibles................... 0 03 [cents] grain
[Do.] Foil........................... 0 025 [cents] grain
[Do.] Wire.......................... 0 025 [cents] grain"

1860: 1 Troy Ounce Platinum (Mfg: Crucible) = USD $ 14.40
1860: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Semi-Mfg: Foil) = USD $ 12.00
1860: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Semi-Mfg: Wire) = USD $ 12.00  
1860: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Sponge, Trade) = USD$ 10.

1860: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Scrap, Mkt) ~ USD$ 7.25 - 7.66

1860: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Mkt) = USD$ 8.
 

By 1860, the Russian Platinum Rouble had then been demonetized for nearly 20 years, but the US Mint Director's valuation remains the standard Rouble forex (3x $ 0.795 = $2.39)

The second coin, of USA manufacture, dates to the Bollman period. It may be referenced directly to trial-blanks requested by President John Quincy Adams in a letter from 1831.
At 0.7176 - 0.7181 Troy Ounce, the intrinsic value of the actual US Platinum coin  (@ "USD$ 3./oz") was $2.1544 in 1813/4.  The contemporary 1828 Russian Rouble was ~97% pure.

Weight: 344.5 Grains Troy
Specific gravity: 20.9
Diameter: 32.6 mm.

1860: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (US Coin, intrinsic) = USD$ 7.6644 - 7.6588 
1859/60: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Russian Coin, intrinsic) = USD$ 7.23

Citation: A description of ancient and modern coins: in the cabinet collection at the United States Mint; Bureau of the Mint, James Ross Snowden (1860)

Where the Silver Rouble was worth $ 0.795, the commercial value of a 3-Rouble Coin would be USD$ 2.39; the intrinsic value should have been $2.53.

Citation: A description of ancient and modern coins: in the cabinet collection at the ... US Bureau of the Mint, James Ross Snowden


1) 1860: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Rouble Rate) ~ USD$ 7.25

 Exchange Rate in 1858:<

1860: 1 Troy Oz. Gold (Fine, US Value) = USD$ 20.672
1860: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Mkt) ~ USD$ 6.89

Citation: American Journal of Numismatics, Vol. 5-8 (Jan. 1874)



1860: 1 Troy Oz. Gold (Fine, US Value) = USD$ 20.672





1860: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Mkt) = USD$ 8.

1860: 1 Troy Oz. French Dental Alloy (Trade: Ag/Pt, 70/30?) = USD$ 6.50
1860: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Trade: Sponge) = USD$ 10.
1860: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Bid: Scrap) = USD$ 6.
1860: 1 Troy Oz. Silver (Trade: Whols. ) = USD$ 2.
1860: 1 Troy Oz. Silver (Retail: Dental) = USD$ 22.

The common price (market, or 'Spot') was $8. per Ounce Troy.

Citation: New York Dental Journal, Vol. 3 (April 1860) p.107

Importers' wholesale prices to the trade were on the lower range, $6.50 - 7.50, though likely a French alloy Pt/Ag (30/70?)
 
 

EAL Roberts' prices:
Citation: New York Dental Journal, Vol. 3 (April 1860) p.107

In 1860, the retail price for imported Platinum dental products in Indiana is highly illustrative: Platinum plate dentures were 25% > 60% more expensive than Gold and 108% - 167% more expensive than Silver. (Where the price of the dentist's labor and other parts may be presumed the same, the mark-up is entirely dependent on the metal price.)

Where dental Gold was 19-20k (80-83% pure) and Platinum plate required a greater thickness & weight.

If teeth with rims cost $95.-110., the Platinum may have been billed ~ $60./oz.

Citation: New York Dental Journal, Vol. 3 (April 1860) p.53

Ritchie's Catalogues don't show Platinum prices until 1886, which suggests this Boston wholesaler was not a major dealer/importer of the metal.

Circa 1855 and in 1860, Platinum spatula were sold for $1.50, $2., and $2.50; (1860) Pt pendant spoon & rod $1. Luhme of NYC (1857) and others offered Grove's Battery in various sizes at the same prices, suggesting Ritchie's Pt price in manufactures was higher than New York prices.

Citation: Ritchie’s illustrated catalogue of philosophical instruments, and school apparatus. (Boston) 1860

A successor to Daniel Davis, Jr.'s 1836 establishment, Thomas Hall’s illustrated catalogue of telegraph instruments, chemicals, and materials (Boston : Wright & Potter, 1860) didn't advertise Platinum foil or strips either, but sold the Grove Battery "with heavy Platinum strips three inches and a half long and three-quarters of an inch in width" (2.625 sq. in, or 5.25 sq. in. surface area) for $1.50 (or $2., according to another price at rear.) 

Where Platinum was rated at ~$8./ozt by US Customs, the amount (USD$ 64,572) imported was 8,071 Ozt.


Where the $10 Eagle of 258 Grains (0.5375 Ozt)


As reported in 1907.




Citation: Collection of Pamphlets on Coinage, Vol. 11, Issue #7  p.118

 



Reported in 1878; up to c.1867:

USA, 1863: 3 Rouble Coin?

Among the cheapest coins in this 1863 catalogue, the Quarter Eagle ($2.50) was officially $20.69/oz by gold weight; here, $34.10/oz. as a numismatic collectible over the Gold Rate.  

Final sale price are unknown, but at these Gold rates (x 1.52) in Greenbacks, the total premium was at least 150% over face-value.


This Platinum coin, presumably a Three-Rouble, was effectively rated as scrap at $3.10/oz troy.  Another later source recalls the period scrap rate for Platinum (early 1860s) was USD$ 3. or less.


1863: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (UK: Intrinsic)  ~ $ 5.89/ USD$ 10. (£ 1.21)
1863: 1 Ozt. Platinum (France: Mfg, Bulk Retail) = $9.; USD$ 15.30 (Fr 46.66)


1863: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Rouble coin; intrinsic value)  = $ 3.10
1863: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Scrap, Estimate)  = $ 3.00/ USD$ 4.25
1863: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Manufactured, Whols.)  = $ 6.25/ USD$ 9.08


Bangs, Merwin & Co. auction 5/1/1863




Citation: Bulletin of photography: the weekly magazine for ..., Vol. 10; Vol.230-255 p.861
 

Counterfeit Eagles:

Where 2 Eagles should weigh 1.075 Ozt (£ 4.10), it was assumed the counterfeiter keeps  0.8248 Ozt Fine Au, extraordinarily high yield.
 

 

Citation: Scientific American, Vol. 9 (July 4, 1863) p.21

Taking the $10 Eagle at 0.5373 Ozt valued at £ 2.05, the counterfeit Eagle (reduced $4.66 = USD$ 6.75: ~0.25 Ozt) was worth ~$5.34/ USD 7.75 (0.25.86 Ozt, Fine Au); the platina filling (~0.25 Ozt) was estimated worth $ 1.00.  It's not clear if the "platina" were the 66% Pt/ 34% Ag alloy; if so, Specific Gravity of the Coin should be lower: 16.61 instead of 17.32.

c.1863: 1 Ozt. platina (Whols.) = USD$ 4.

Counterfeit Platinum Eagles, 1862:





April, 1863: 1 Troy Ounce Silver-Platinum Alloy (Dental Trade) ~ $ 7. ; USD$ 

April/May, 1863:

Citation: Dental News, Vol, 2, No.2 (June, 1863) p.

1862/3:

USA, 1882: Numismatic Value of Platinum Rouble ; School Supplies & Scrap

1882: 1 Troy Ounce Platinum (Scrap, Bid: Low) = USD$ 5.
1882: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (NYC: Ru Ingot, 85% ingot) = USD$ 6.  
1882: 1 Troy Oz. Pt (NYC: Ru Ingot, Est. .999) = USD$ 7.06
1882: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (NYC: Est. Producer Cost) = USD$ 7.55
1882: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Phila.: Wire, trade) = USD$ 10.

1882: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (NYC: Est. Mkt., .999) = USD$ 11.26

April, 1882:
Citation: Items of Interest, Vol. IV, No. 4 4/1882 p.61
 


December, 1882:
Citation: Items of Interest, Vol. IV, No. 12 12/1882 p.188


c.1882: 1 Troy Oz. Palladium (refined, trade) = USD$ 35. - 55.
c.1882: 1 Troy Oz. Iridosmine (select grains, best 10-20%) = USD$ 250.

c.1882: 1 Troy Oz. Iridium (metallic) = USD$ 10.
c.1882: 1 Troy Oz. Iridium (Imported, refined) = USD$ 20.


1882: 1 Troy Oz. Gold (scrap) = USD$ 22.

Citation:


1882:








US Imports:
 

1882-1887:





1882: 1 Troy Ounce Platinum (Scrap, Bid: Low) = USD$ 5.
  
Citation: Dental brief, Vol. , ; F. T. Grimes, 1882, p.40




c.1882:

Citation: Plastics and plastic filling: as pertaining to the filling of all cavities... Josiah Foster Flagg p.45

c.1882: Irirdium/Osmium

c.1884: an impossible issue (Platinum 12-Roubles minted after 1829, so 1832):


 
March, 1882: 3-Rouble (1829 Proof) = USD$ 5.10
March, 1882: 3-Rouble (1844 VF) = USD$ 3.80

March, 1882: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Numismatic, 3-Rbl) = $ 11.71 - 15.71
March, 1882: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Numismatic, Rarity) = $ 23.11

Citation: Catalogue of the collection of American and foreign coins and medals, ancient and modern, formerly the property of Mr. A. Dohrmann... Also of a small numismatic library, and a little collection of union envelopes. To be sold by auction, by Messrs. Bangs & Co....March...1882... Catalogue by W. Elliot Woodward. (1882)





Where the 12-Rouble (.999 Pt: 9.708 Zolotnik = 1.33 Ozt ; 41.412 Grams) was $22.50

and the 6-Rouble (.999 Pt: 4.85 Zolotnik = 0.666 Ozt ; 20.707 Grams) was $7.50, the numismatic premium was at least 15% over Spot.

November, 1882: 12-Rouble (Avg?) = USD$ 22.50

November, 1882: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Coin: Numismatic) = $ 11.27 - 16.90

1882: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (numismatic ~ auction) = USD$ 11.27
1882: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (numismatic ~ auction) = USD$ 16.90
1882: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (numismatic ~ auction) = USD$ 17.50

November 1882:

Citation: American journal of numismatics, Vol. 17-18, ; American Numismatic Society, Boston numismatic society (1883)


The Anthon Coins were all dated 1833, exhibited in NYC 11/20/1877:

Citation: American Journal of Numismatics, Volumes 10-12



c.1882-1885 The coin collection of A.M. Smith was sold in late 1882. His Coin Encyclopedia was published in March 1886, after many years of work. (See: Catalogue of the Collection of A.M. Smith, of Philadelphia: Containing Ancient Greek and Roman Coins, American and Foreign Coins and Medals, Numismatic Works, Paper Currency, U.S. Centennials, Minerals, Intaglios, Curiosities, &c., &c., &c. : to be Sold at Auction by Henkles [i.e. Henkels] & Tripple ... November 27, 28 and 29, 1882) 
   
Circa 1882?: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Coin: Bid, Scrap?) = 6.76/ $ 6.94
   
Citation: Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Gold and Silver Coins of the World;  Andrew Madsen Smith (1886)
 

Counterfeit Platinum Eagles, as late as 1882