UK, 1852

August, 1852: 
A Grove's Battery cost £ 0.60, 10 Batteries cost £ 6.0; in 1839, the cost was £ 0.70 per. 
 
August 1852: 1 Troy Ounce Platinum (Semi-Mfg, Retail) = £ 2.00 (USD$ 9.70)
August 1852: 1 Ozt. Platinized Silver (Semi-Mfg, Ret.) = £ 0.50
   
Citation: A Manual of Electro-metallurgy: Including the Applications of the Art...; James Robert Napier 


 

Citation: Gold-mining and assaying: a scientific guide for Australian emigrants; John Arthur Phillips (1852) p.11 Griffin Catalogue

 
Where 1 Imperial Fluid Ounce ~  28 cc, and at estimated weight of ~35 Grams:

1852: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Manufactured, Whols.) ~ £ 1.56 (USD$ 7.82)
1852: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Mfg, Mkt.) ~ USD$ 15.

1852: "Griffith's Circ 2143" cited, the vendor is Griffin.

Citation: Minutes of the Committee of Council on Education, with appendices, Vol. 1 ; Committee on Education

2.5 shillings here, for unspecified amount in all cases








Chlorplatinate solution, 5s./oz










Griffin's Circular price is among the lowest for manufactures.

Citation: Gold-mining and assaying: a scientific guide for Australian emigrants, (1852) p.171

Iridosmine double the price of Gold, presumably, Best Ore estimate.

1852: 1 Ozt. Gold (Mkt: Canadian ore) = £ 3.525
1852: 1 Ozt. Iridosmine (Mkt: Canadian ore) ~ £ 7.
 
Report from May 1852:

USA, 1905: Catalogue (Denver Fire & Clay)

Cited as 'recent' but not absolute Platinum High.

1905: 1 Troy Ounce platina (NYC: Ore, 80%) = USD$ 14.40 - 15.20
1905: 1 Troy Oz. Pt (Ore @ .999) = USD$ 18. - 19.

1905: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (semi-refined, whols.) = USD$ 20.
1905: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (refined, retail) = USD$ 20.25 - 20.50
1905: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (manufactured, retail) = USD$ 24.50

Citation: Mineral resources of the United States (1905) p.360


September, 1905: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Mkt) = $ 20.50
September, 1905: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Semi-mfg, Whols.) = $23.

1905: 1 Troy Oz. Ruthenium = $ 155.50

1905: 1 Troy Oz. Palladium = $ 46.65

1905: 1 Troy Oz. Iridium = $ 77.75

1905: 1 Troy Oz. Silver (market) = $ 0.6221
1905: 1 Troy Oz. Silver (refined, semi-mfg) = $ 1.00

1905: 1 Troy Oz. Gold (Mkt) = $ 20.67
1905: 1 Troy Oz. Gold (Chemically Refined) = $54.43

July, 1905:


Late August 1905 news:


Citation: Illustrated and priced catalogue of assayers' and chemists' supplies By Denver Fire Clay Company (1905)

General Summary, 1905-7:

1905: 1 Troy Ounce Palladium = USD$ 30. - 35.

1908: 1 Troy Ounce Palladium = USD$ 40.

1902-04: 1 Troy Ounce Palladium (ore) = CDN$ 21.40

1902 - 04:

Citation: Annual report on the mineral production of Canada; Dominion Bureau of Statistics, Geological Survey of Canada p.149

1905:

Citation: Platers' guide: with which is combined brass world, Vol. 1 (1905)p.414

1908:

Citation: Business aid, Vol. 2 (1909) p.189

1901-14: Spot Prices for Russian platina, in Russia

1905: 1 Troy Ounce platina (Russian ore, Spot) = USD$ 17.03

Citation: Bulletin of the Pan American Union, Vol. 45 (1917) p.618

USA, 1865/6: MIT Textbook; Luhme Catalogue (1866)

Assuming the lowest grade Osmiridium (Ir 47% / Os 49%; Ir 53.5% ) was meant; otherwise the SF Platinum market (Scrap) should estimated $7./Ozt at .999 Purity.

1865: 1 Troy Oz. platina (CA: Osmine, Ir 47%-54%) = USD$ 2. (USD$ 2.19)
1865: 1 Ozt. Ir (CA: Iridium, .999) ~USD$ 3.74 (USD$ 4.10) 
1865: 1 Ozt. Ir (CA: Iridium, .999) ~USD$ 4.25 (USD$ 4.67)
  
1865: 1 Ozt. platina (CA: "85.5% Pt") = USD$ 6. (USD$ 8.29 - 8.45)
1865: 1 Ozt. Pt (CA: .999 Pt) = USD$ 7. (USD$ 7.68)

 Citation: Mechanics Magazine; John Knight, Henry Lacey (June 1, 1866) p.347


1866:  1 Ozt. Platinum (UK: Semi-mfg., Whols/Ret.) = USD$ 12.50 (£ 1.65)
1866: 1 Ozt. Platinum (UK: Mfg, Whols./Ret.) = USD$ 14.70 (£ 1.94) 

1865: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Mfg, Bulk) = $ 6.35 ; USD$ 10. (Fr 32.66)
1866: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Semi-Mfg., Retail) = $ 6.09 (Fr. 31.1035) 

Larger Platinumware items of simpler construction were cheaper, but all paid a 40% US Import duty.  The US unmanufactured rate likewise appears ~42% higher than the Paris price, to include merchant costs and profit.


1866: 1 Ozt. Platinum ( > 1 Ozt. Semi-Mfg, Whols./Ret.) = $8.64 (USD$ 9.48)

1866: 1 Ozt. Platinum ( < 1 Ozt. Semi-Mfg, Whols./Ret.) = $9. (USD$ 9.87)
1866: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Mfg, Whols./Ret.) = $7.20 (USD$ 7.90)
1866: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Mfg, Whols./Ret.) = $8.40 (USD$ 9.22) 
1866: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Mfg, Whols./Ret.) = $8.64 (USD$ 9.48)
  
1866: 1 Ozt. Platinum ( > 1 Ozt. Semi-Mfg) = $9.87 (USD$ 13.91)
1866: 1 Ozt. Platinum ( < 1 Ozt. Semi-Mfg) = $14.40 (USD$ 15.80)
1866: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Mfg, Whols./Ret.) = $12. (USD$ 13.17)
1866: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Mfg, Whols./Ret.) = $14. (USD$ 15.36) 
1866: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Mfg, Whols./Ret.) = $14.40 (USD$ 15.80)
 

In Luhme's Descriptive Catalogue of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Physical Apparatus, Meteorological & Mathematical Instruments (c.1866)

p. 43 "Blowpipe Spoons, Platina $2.00 to $2.50"p. 55 "Capsules, Apothecaries, of Platina or Iridio-Platina, Paris make, with or without lip, shallow or hemispherical, and with or without cover. Price according to the size From 40 to 45 cents pr. gramme, or 2 1/2 to 3 cents pr. grain.do., of Pure Silver, according to size. $3.00 to 4.00 pr. oz." 

p. 83 "Crucibles, Platinum or Iridio-Platinum (as used by St. Cair Deville); conical form; with covers having the form of a shallow capsule with handle. Best Paris make. Capacity fr. 1/8 to 1.5 oz. Price 3 cents per Grain, or 45 cents pr. gramme. The capacities of the different sizes, in comparison to their weight, are aboutCont. 1/8.....1/4....1/2....3/4........1....1 1/4....1 1/2 oz.Weight 120....180....240....320....400....500....650 grains about 676. 
Crucibles, pure Silver, conical form, with cover Cont. 2.........4 oz.Weight $5.....$7.50"

p. 107 "Galvanic Battery, Grove's. The size of the glass tumbler is 4 inches high by 3.75 inches in diameter. The weight of the amalgamated zinc* is 2.5 pounds the size of the platinum foil is 3 1/2 inches by 3/4 inch. 

Single cell with binding screw........$3.

Double Cell complete.....................$4.50

Intermediate Cells.........................$1.75

Six Cells in a wooden box...............$12.

Twelve...........................................$22."

(indicated as $0.25/lb., p.151)

p.134 "1259. Platinum Foil for Grove's Battery or Blowpipe use...... $9.00 pr. oz., 3 cts pr grain.

.............do., Wire, for Blowpipe use .....50 cts. to $1.00 pr foot

.............do., Wire, very fine, for ignition with the battery.....15 cts. pr foot

Before any import cost, duties, or profit the Dollar-depreciated values of foreign Platinum were much higher after April, 1864, but fluctuating in 1865:

4/1864 - 9/1864?: 1 Troy Ounce Platinum (mfg., whols.) = Market Price of Gold

1865/6: 1 Troy Ounce Platinum (mfg., whols.) = £ 1.60 - 2.40 (USD$ 12.30 - 18.46)

A Chemistry textbook was jointly produced by two brothers-in-law, Charles Eliot & Frank Storer, after the first year of a course they taught for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (February, 1865) in Boston.

A 2:1 Gold ratio implies Platinum rose more significant than most commodities, before the 1866/7 price crash. A hypothetical Platinum price record in Greenbacks follows:

4/1864: 1 Troy Ounce Gold (refined) = USD$ 35.70
4/64: 1 Troy Ounce Platinum (refined) ~ USD$ 35.70
7/64: 1 Troy Ounce Gold (refined) = USD$ 53.41
7/64: 1 Troy Ounce Platinum (refined) ~ USD$ 53.41
10/64: 1 Troy Ounce Gold (refined) = USD$ 42.83
10/64: 1 Troy Ounce Platinum (refined) ~ USD$ 35.
1/65: 1 Troy Ounce Gold (refined) = USD$ 44.69
1/65: 1 Troy Ounce Platinum (refined) ~ USD$ 22.50
4/65: 1 Troy Ounce Gold (refined) = USD$ 30.72
4/65: 1 Troy Ounce Platinum (refined) ~ USD$ 15.35
7/65: 1 Troy Ounce Gold (refined) = USD$ 29.36
7/65: 1 Troy Ounce Platinum (refined) ~ USD$ 14.75
10/65: 1 Troy Ounce Gold (refined) = USD$ 30.09
10/65: 1 Troy Ounce Platinum (refined) ~ USD$ 15.
1/66: 1 Troy Ounce Gold (refined) = USD$ 28.96
1/66: 1 Troy Ounce Platinum (refined) ~ USD$ 14.75
4/66: 1 Troy Ounce Gold (refined) = USD$ 26.31
4/66: 1 Troy Ounce Platinum (refined) ~ USD$ 13.
7/66: 1 Troy Ounce Gold (refined) = USD$ 31.34
7/66: 1 Troy Ounce Platinum (refined) ~ USD$ 15.50
10/66: 1 Troy Ounce Gold (refined) = USD$ 30.66
10/66: 1 Troy Ounce Platinum (refined) ~ USD$ 15.
1/67: 1 Troy Ounce Gold (refined) = USD$ 27.82
1/67: 1 Troy Ounce Platinum (refined) ~ USD$ 14.

Richmond Price:
10/64 - 1/65: 1 Troy Ounce Gold (refined) = Gold $ 64. ; C$ 3,840.
10/64 - 1/65: 1 Troy Ounce Platinum (refined) = Gold $ 64. ; C$ 3,840.


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



1866:

Citation: A manual of inorganic chemistry: arranged to facilitate the experimental ... By Charles William Eliot, Frank Humphreys Storer(1866), p.592

High though these Greenback prices might seem, dental suppliers were advertising/retailing refined Gold foil in Early-Mid 1866 for +75% the New York Market Spot. That implies retail prices for the far rarer imported Platinum rose above $26./oz. in Greenbacks.

In 1864, pure Palladium was reportedly sold for $150./oz. (in Greenbacks?), up from $30. - $60. in the mid-1850s. If following the price of Palladium +300%, refined Platinum products sold at retail might well have cost ~$45. in Greenbacks. In 1858, Platinum crucibles were reportedly sold for $18. - 19. ; a doubling of prices was by no means atypical in this period.

If Gold Foil in 1865 was 50% more expensive than it had been in 1855, Platinum Foil might easily have cost ~ $25 wholesale.

Citation: Hettingers Dental News, Vols. 1-6 (June 1866) p.71

Citation: Hettingers Dental News, Volumes 1-6 (Dec. 1866) p.178


1865-72: Philadelphia Platinum Price, $10.40, Gold Rate

1865-72: 1 Troy Oz. of Platinum (semi-mfg, retail) = USD$ 16.36 > 11.62)

Citation: Dental summary, Vol. 36 (1916) p.249


L.G. Tillotson's Catalogue (July, 1866):



Tables of the NY Gold/Greenback Price, 1862-65:

Inflation of Retail Prices in Greenbacks:

USA, 1887: Catalogue Prices for Platinum, platina

Summer, 1887: 1 Troy Ounce Platinum (Import, Mkt.) = USD$ 7.50
Winter, 1887: 1 Troy Ounce Platinum (Import, Mkt.) = USD$ 6.80
1887: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Import, Semi-Mfg./Wire) = USD$ 7.80
1887: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Mfg., Raynor) = USD$ 9.60 - 12.00

At standard volumes, the weight of crucibles without covers did not vary significantly at different times, by manufactures, in different countries, etc. Where a 75 cc crucible weighed 25 grams and a 20 cc crucible weighed 6 grams, the price of 31 grams or 1 troy ounce may be estimated accordingly.

1887: 1 Troy Ounce Platinum (Mfg., Trade) = USD$ 9.60 - 12.00

For comparative weights, examine the 1904 Bausch & Lomb Catalogue

Citation: Notes on assaying and assay schemes ; Pierre de Peyster Ricketts (1887) p.

Where Pure Gold was $23./oz wholesale, Half Platinum Plate was $18./oz whols. (78%);

1887: 1 Troy Ounce Platinum (manufactured, retail) ~ USD$ 24.00?

1887:

Where 25ccm = 7/8 ounce, the crucible weight should be 400 grains.

J.Bishop & Co., Phila. 1887

Citation: Notes on assaying and assay schemes (1887) p.213

Uncertain time for price data; Davenport's work was executed in 1885-7. Assuming 1 kg of Platinumware cost $390 ($0.39/g.):

1885/7: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Mfg, Whols.) = USD$ 12.13

Citation: Journal of Analytical and Applied Chemistry, Vol. 3 Part 3 (1889) p313



E.A. Gieseler reported this in a lecture, mid February 1888. In the Metrical Standard, the manufactured price of Platinum was clearly higher than Spot Gold. 

c.1887: If a French Standard weighed exactly 3.5 Kgs (~112.53 Ozt), 

12/1887?: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Paris: Import, Mfg.) = USD$ 22.22
2/1888: 1 Troy Oz. Gold (London, @ forex) = USD$ 20.95

Citation: Journal of the Franklin Institute, Vol. 126 (8/1888) p.126

Assuming avoirdupois weight, Foote was selling platina retail at about double the wholesale bulk asking price for 70% pure US platina.

Summer, 1887: Global or only US Price Hike?

Citation: Mineral resources of the United States, Vol. 5 , US Bureau of Mines, Geological Survey (1888)

1887: 1 Troy Oz. platina (NY: US ore, 64%) = $ 4.10
1887: 1 Troy Oz. platina (NY: US ore, intrinsic) = $ 6.41

1887: 1 Troy Oz. platina (US ore, 70% mkt) = $ 4.50  
1887: 1 Troy Oz. platina (US ore, intrinsic) = $ 6.43
1887: 1 Troy Oz. US Platinum  (US ore + labor) ~ $ 7. 

1887: 1 Troy Oz. Iridosmine (US Ir/Os, ore ) = $ 3.33
1887: 1 Troy Oz. Iridosmine (US Ir/Os, intrinsic) = $ 

Citation: Mineral resources of the United States, Vol. 4 , US Bureau of Mines, Geological Survey (1887)


1887, 1888:

1887: 1 Troy Ounce platina (Cdn ore, whols.) = C$ 4.0
1888: 1 Troy Ounce platina (Cdn ore, whols.) = C$ 4.0

Citation: Canada Yearbook, p.296



New York: Platinum Wire, 1883-1898

Citation: Journal of the Franklin Institute, Vol. 146 ; Franklin Institute (Philadelphia, Pa.: 1898) p.210.
 

c.1887: 1 Troy Ounce Palladium (refined, pure) ~ USD$ 45.

Citation: The Monthly cyclopædia of practical medicine. v.1-21, v.22, no. 1 ..., Volume 2 (1888), p.59


US Retail: 

1887: 1 Troy Ounce platina (ore, retail) = USD$ 9.87

Citation: Notes on assaying and assay schemes, Pierre de Peyster Ricketts (1887) p. iii


Queen & Co. were a better known US catalogue for chemical & apparatus, the longevity of their operation established their prices as 'the wholesale market' for many decades.

1887: 1 Troy Oz. of Iridium (market) = $ 77.75

1887: 1 Troy Oz. of Osmium (market) = $ 93.30

1887: 1 Troy Oz. of Rhodium (market) = $155.50

1887: 1 Troy Oz. of Ruthenium (market) = $ 124.40

1887: 1 Troy Oz. of Palladium (market) = $ 77.75

1887: 1 Troy Oz. of Silver (market) = $ 1.75

1887: 1 Troy Oz. of Pure Gold (market) = $ 54.43

1887: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (California: Mfg., European Import) = USD$ 12.45
1887: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (California: Mfg., Intrinsic) = USD$  9.64
 
Citation: Annual Report of the Board of Control of the New York ; Issues 4-5 (1887) p.127



E.A. Schneider was a scientist, not a dealer. Here he was apparently remunerated for a Platinum crucible, presumably second-hand and at scrap-rate.
 


1887: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (California: Semi-Mfg.) = USD$ 9.33

c.1887: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Coin: Scrap, Bid?) ~ USD$ 6.16

Citation: The Rare Coins of America, England, Ireland, Scotland, France, Germany... William Von Bergen (1889)
 
Customs Estimate, 6/30/1886-6/30/1887: 3,863 lbs avd! (56,335 Ozt) for $438,516, 

1887: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (NY: Import, Semi-Mfg.) = USD$ 7.7840

The New Orleans Mint witnessed corrupt melts in 1887