Austria, 1842

Ure's text does not cite these prices, which may be conversions from the official Rouble rate. It is unclear how closely the Austrian or German market prices followed the Russian rate.

Although the book appears to be intended for the German market, it's worth noting the variance in weights. Where 1 Wien Mark = 16 W. Loth = 280.644 g, 1 W. Loth = 17.54 g; 1 W. Unze (2 W. Loth) = 35.0805 g; 1 W. Unze = 1.1279 English Troy Ounces; 1 English Troy Ounce = 0.8866 W. Unze.  Confusingly but not surprisingly, the Bohemia Pfund was "lighter" than the Imperial standard.  This was exactly why the French metric Kilogram made so much sense.

1 Troy Ounce of Platinum (mfg, still)  Rthlr. 4.52 (USD$ 3.35)

Citation: Technisches wörterbuch oder Handbuch der Gewerbskunde ...: Bearb. nach Dr ... Andrew Ure, Karl Karmarsch (1843) p. 613

 1842:
 

c.1844?


  



Where 1 Wiener Loth = 17.51412 g,

c. 1842? 1 Troy Ounce Platinum (Sponge, Retail)  Fl. C.M. 14.21 (USD$ )

 {Platinized Copper?} per Loth, Fl. 7. Platinum Sponge and and Precipitate, Fl. 8. per Loth.

c.1842, suspect republication

Citation: Chemische Kameral-Waarenkunde;  Philipp A.R. v. Holger (1842) p.215

Germany, 1846

Where 1 kilogram =  Fl 373.7337 = Fr 800.,

Estimating the intrinsic Platinum value in Bavaria, by the Paris Price:

1846: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (intrinsic) = Fl 11.62 (USD$ 4.52)

1846: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (intrinsic) = Fr 24.88 (USD$ 4.79)

Citation: Dinglers polytechnisches journal, Vol.104; Ed. Johann Gottfried Dingler, Emil Maximilian Dingler (1846) p.204p.429

1847/8:

Germany, 1855

Assuming this isn't a later forex exercise in English troy ounces, already converted: 

A review. A small little book, the first catalog of C. Ash & Sons 1855 in London, printed by F. Brettell, Rupert Street Haymarket, is before us and the description thereof is not without a certain interest.

In 1855 mineral teeth cost with gold tubes, or simply shaded, each Mk. 1.50, with platinum tubes each Mk. 1.-, mineral pieces with gum per tooth Mk. 2.-.

Platinum foil and wire were sold in large pieces and although the prices of Mk 26.50 per Ounce. Hard platinum patterned and cut Mk. 35.- per Ounce.

Still cost in the first half of 1906 platinum Mk. 103.- per ounce and is now, according to both, as is well known, the great demand, and due to the fact that platinum is a relatively rare metal, the price enormously in soared, for not only the manufacturers of artificial teeth need platinum, but also electrical industries.




1855: 1 Troy Ounce Platinum (Semi-Mfg, Retail)= ℳ  27.23 (USD$ 10.76)


Citation: Korrespondenz-Blatt fuer Zahnaerzte, Vol. 36 p.89
 


Citation: Chemisches Laboratorium. Anleitung zum Selbstunterrichte in der Chemie. Gießen, J. Ricker, 1856, XI, 610 S.

1855: 1 Troy Oz. platina (Best Ore Ret.) = Thlr. 8.51 (USD$ 5.86) 
1855: 1 Troy Oz. platina (Ore, Ret.) = Thlr. 6.38 (USD$ 4.39)





Citation: Journal für praktische Chemie, Vol. 64, Issues 1-8




"Minerals for Chemical Laboratories and Commercial-plants"


1855: 1 Troy Oz. platina (Ore, Trade = Thlr. 5.97 (USD$ 4.11)
1855: 1 Troy Oz. Iridosmine (Ore, Trade = Thlr. 5.97 (USD$ 4.11)  

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, 1824

reference



1817: "Platinum jets" (Accum) = £ 0.25 
1824: 2 Platinum jets (trade) = Thlr 1 (£ 0.1583 , Fr 3.81 )
1855: "Platinum jets" = USD$ 0.75 (1 ozt Pt, $9.60) 
 
Summer news (18 July 1824) from Cartagena, Colombia to Frankfurt Am Main arrived via London 11 weeks later. Fall news from St. Petersburg arrived 21-23 days later.

Citation: Repertorium für die Pharmacie, Vol. 19 (1824)

Citation:Augsburger Allgemeine Zeitung (March, 1824)


February news reported April 30, 1824:

(1823?) Lightning rod conductor tips for Fr 4.

Die Platina scheint nun auch, außer den Laboratorien der Chemiker, sich mehr ins gemeine Leben den Weg zu bahnen. Die Wiener treffliche Porzellanfabrik liefert platinirte Tassen und Herr Ziegler-Steiner in Winterthur Blitzableiter-Spitzen aus reiner Platina, in welche eigends dazu gegossene starke Messing-Stücke auslaufen, die man auf ein Stuck Eisen angeschraubt, zusammen der dazu nothigen Schraube um den billigen Preis von vier Franken.

Besides the chemists' laboratories, Platinum now seems to be paving the way into common life ever more so. The Vienna Fine Porcelain Factory supplies platinized cups and Mr. Ziegler-Steiner in Winterthur {has} lightning rod tips of pure Platinum, which are to expressly tip strong cast brass pieces, which can be screwed to a piece of iron, together with the necessary screw, for the cheap price of four Francs.

Das Elfen wird hernaeh auf die Wetterftange angefetrw'eiti, diet wenn nth zu nahe Kamine eine größere Lange erfordert-r niclit über 6 Fuß betragen darf. Herr Ziegler legte Proben ,feiner Arbeit den r3. Februar der naturforfrdenden Gefelifidaft in Zürn) vor. Sicher ifi, daß die Piatina unter allen Metallen am meifien dem Verderben widerfteht- indeffen man oft die gewöhnlichen kupfe'rnen 'und vergoldeten Spider' verrofiet ' (orodire)t gerfreffen oder gekrümmt finden wodurch der beabfirhtigte Zwei' vereitelt wird.

Citation: Hesperus, Encyclopädische Zeitschrift für gebildete Leser; Ed. Christian Karl Andre (1824)


Higher price quoted in 1825

Citation: Archives des découvertes et des inventions nouvelles..., Vol. 17 (1825) p.112




November 1824: News from St. Petersburg (21 days later) of the massive Uralian Gold Yield in the First Half; platina mentioned. It is not clear if/when any of the platina reached Europe - several months later?

1824? Exchange Rate
 

Germany, 1819

There was a fire at 181/2 Strand on January 20, 1820; purchases from Cary with this address are prior to this date.


c.1819: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (mfg)  = £ 1.0 (USD$ 4.51)

Citation: Handbuch der analytischen chemie, Volume 1; Christoph Heinrich Pfaff (1821) p.271

It must be possible when in possession of several platinum crucible. I own 4 of their different sizes, an elderly French, a new Ditto. and two English. To obtain the latter, one has to address William Cary, London, no. 182 Strand at Norfolk Street. The larger the same weighs 3 ounces, 5.5 ounce, has a height of 2 "above par a width of 2" is 3 "' and below only 10" and cost 18 shillings sterling and -3 (an ounce of platinum processed Cary English to 20th in shillings), the smaller 2 ounce weighs 2 ounces, has a height of 4 '2 ", the same size top and bottom of 8"', and costs 2 pounds and 10 shillings. These English crucibles have against themselves that they worked too thin and the bottom too tight, so even such a platinum crucible me earlier fine through a hole, which he got in the ground, became useless. I therefore prefer the French, which are thicker by walls, and have a better Berhältnisch of dimensions. My major FRENCH platinum crucible 0.5 ounce weighs 4 ounces, has a height of 2 inches 2 lines above a width of 2 inches 2 lines, and down from 11 '". You can to get them to Cuoq Couturier et Compagnie, rue Richelieu No. 107 , contact and the prices seem a bit cheaper. The value of this processed platinum comes from the value 4.5mal 14 löthigem so much like silver. Any cracks in such platinum crucibles, or even on the silver crucibles, one recognizes the dull tone to it, on a finger will float to give me when you hit a key or the like. Such cracks can auegefüllt with gold who "the one you should not such a pot of glowing so much, because alödann itself attracts the gold into the platinum, and the crack opens again. The cover for the English. Platinum crucibles are bent, and therefore do little more closely than the French, by engaging only three pins. 

Germany, 1842: Estimation of Russian Output

Apparently, Russian Weights/Prices translated into German:

Where 1 Prussian Unze of 2 Loths is (2 x 14.6159784485459 Grams) 29.232 Grams = 0.939829251 Ozt, and assuming the Prussian Commercial Pfund, 1 Kilogram platina cost Thlr 106.90.  At this Prussian-Weight, 1 Poud Russian platina cost руб Ag 1,598 
and 1 Poud Platinum cost руб Ag 4,090.60.

If the Russian Weight of 1 Funt (409.512 Grams) was intended, then 1 Poud Russian platina cost 2,000 Thlrs or руб Ag 1,825.


c. 1840:  1 Troy Ounce platina (US Low: USA importer's bulk) ~ руб Ag 3.471

c.1841/2:
 
1841: 1 Troy Ounce platina (ore) = Preuss Thlr 3.325 (USD$ 2.33) OR
1841: 1 Troy Oz. platina (ore) = Preuss Thlr 3.7976 (USD$ 2.66)
1841: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (refined) = Rthlr 8.51 (USD$ 6.) 

1841: 1 Troy Oz. platina (SPb: Russian ore) =  руб Ag 3.034
1841: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (SPb: refined) = руб Ag 7.767368  


Citation: Lehrbuch der chemie, Vol. 2; Eilhard Mitscherlich (1847) p.675-6



This estimation of Russian ore appears to be intrinsic :

c.1842: 1 Troy Ounce Platinum (intrinsic?) = Thl 8.87 (USD$ 6.12)

Citation: Das Kaiserreich Russland: statistisch-geschichtliche Darstellung seiner ...; (Freiherr von) Friedrich Wilhelm Reden, (1843) p.561

1842:

c.1842:

Canada, c.1851: Osmium

The costs of refined PGMs were astronomically high fairky consistently throughout most of the 19th C.

In 1853, Osmiridium/Iridosmine was about 1/3rd the price of Gold. The mark-up on refined Osmium was about 24x per ounce, but only about 6.5x the intrinsic rate of 25% Osmium ore.

The US wholesale Osmium and Osmiridium prices were double the UK prices, but 30x the domestic (North American) ore price.

1853: 1 Troy Ounce Osmirdium (ore, whols.) = £ 0.90 (USD$ 4.40)

1854: 1 Troy Ounce Osmium (refined, pure, whols.) = £ 24. (USD$ 117.10)

c.1851: 1 Troy Oz. Osmiridium (Canadian ore) ~ £ (USD$ )

c.1851: 1 Troy Oz. Osmiridium (Canadian ore, intrinsic) ~ £ 8.5 (USD$ 41.55)

c.1851: 1 Troy Oz. Gold (Canadian ore) = £ 3.55 (USD$ 17.40)

1852: 1 Troy Ounce Osmium (pure, whols. @ NYC) = USD$ 240.

1853: 1 Troy Ounce Osmiridium (ore, whols.) = USD$ 8.

1853: 1 Troy Ounce Osmium (pure, whols. @ NYC) = USD$ 240.

Citation: Report of Progress; Geological Survey of Canada (1852) p.47

UK/Australia, 1933: Osmium

Citation: Official year book of the Commonwealth of Australia; Commonwealth Bureau of Census and Statistics, Australian Bureau of Statistics (1935) p.637

UK/Australia, 1940: Osmium

Citation: Official Year Book of the Commonwealth of Australia No. 33 - 1940 By Australia. Commonwealth Bureau of Census and Statistics p.992

UK, 1950

South African Osmirium/Iridosmine:

UK, 1812: Iridium & Osmium

1812: 1 Troy Ounce Platinum (Wire: Cary retail) = £ 0.8751
1812: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Mfg: Cary retail) = £ 1.00

1812: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Wire: Accum retail) = £ 1.05
1812: 1 Troy Oz Platinum (Mfg: Accum retail) = £ 1.20

Although the spot-price platina in New Grenada was falling dramatically, the British retail price was stable.

Iridium ore was  still not well analyzed by 1826, but British samples from 1806 (of unknown provenance) date to the period of Accum's catalogue.  Iridium ore was 3x more expensive than platina. 

Refined and manufactured Platinum was 3x more expensive than platina at the intrinsic rate; labor & profit being a full 2/3rds the price.  

Citation:   Descriptive Catalogue of the Apparatus and Instruments. . . Manufactured and Sold by Accum and Garden (1812) p.53

Muriate:


Platinum forecepts were recommended as mineralogist tools at least as early as 1814.  
c.1812:






Assuming the same effort and margins only suggests the very lowest possible producer prices, where the far less rare and non-toxic Palladium was in fact retailing for ~ £ 24 ./oz.

1812: 1 Troy Oz. Iridosmine/Osmiridium (ore)  = £ 0.75 (USD$ 2.72)

1812: 1 Troy Oz. Iridium (intrinsic)  ~ £ 1.0 (USD$ 3.62)
1812: 1 Troy Oz. Osmium (intrinsic)  ~ £ 3.0 (USD$ 10.86)
1812: 1 Troy Oz. Iridium (refined)  ~ £ 3. (USD$ 10.86)
1812: 1 Troy Oz. Osmium (refined)  ~ £ 9. (USD$ 32.58) 

1812: 1 Troy Oz. platina (ore)  = £ 0.25 (USD$ 0.91)

1812: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (intrinsic value, @ 75%)  ~ £ 0.33 (USD$ 1.21)
1812: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (refined)  = £ 1. (USD$ )

1812: 1 Troy Oz. Palladium (Trade, Accum) = £ 4.85 (USD$ )
1812: 1 Troy Oz. Palladium (Trade, .999) = £ 5.4281 (USD$ )  
1812: 1 Troy Oz. Palladium (Est. Retail, Accum) ~ £ 5.82 (USD$ )
1812: 1 Troy Oz. Palladium (Est. Retail, Accum) ~ £ 6.5174 (USD$ ) 
 

The 1835 Davy Catalogue illustrates how much higher demand and/or costs were, in fact.  Iridosmine (ore) was twice as expensive as refined Platinum, and refined Iridium was 11.25x more expensive than the ore.  Iridium was 22.5x more expensive than Platinum; Osmium was 30x more expensive than Pt.

 

1835: 1 Troy Oz. Iridium (refined)  = £ 36. (USD$ 174.60)

1835: 1 Troy Oz. Osmium (refined)  = £ 48. (USD$ 232.80)

1835: 1 Troy Oz. Iridosmine (Native Iridium)  = £ 3.20 (USD$ 15.52)

1835: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (refined,retail)  = £ 1.60 (USD$ 7.76)

1835: 1 Troy Oz. platina (ore)  = £ 0.90 (USD$ 4.37)


Citation:  The Annals of philosophy, Vol. 27 Ed. Thomas Thomson, Richard Phillips, Edward William Brayley (1826) p.17

 

 

Citation: Annales des mines: ou recueil de memoires sur l'exploitation..., Vol. 12 1826 p.326
 

French books were 70% - 100% more expensive in London.

The London price for 3 vol. set of a French title, £ 1.60 (Fr. 30.61 )


The Paris price for same 3 vol. presumably Fr 18. - 21. (£ 0.94 - 1.10)


The London price for 2 vol. set of a French title, £ 1.05 (Fr. 20.09)


The Paris price for same 2 vol. presumably Fr 10. - 13. (£ 0.52 - 0.68)

UK, 1804: Platinum Before Wollaston's Sale

On October 5, 1804, a large shipment of 32 chests (~4,000 Troy Ounces; 124.4 kgs) of platina was seized by British Commodore Moore from the Spanish Frigate Médée (Bustamante Guerra) and presumably sold on the UK market (at Plymouth, around October 19th?)  Wollaston's purchase record does not show he acquired this platina in 1805 or 1806.

This bulk platina seizure is 2/3rds Wollaston's 'monopolist purchase' in 1800 and ten times greater than the widely-publicized large bulk sale in New York in 1802. Similar bulk auctions  may have periodically discounted bulk platina in the UK; it is also not known whether merchant banks held platina as a commodity or for what duration.

This Continental/ Atlantic news was reported in London October 25th 1804 and in Haiti March 14th, 1805; there was a 4.5 month lag-time in trans-Atlantic commercial news during the winter months.

 

The Diary of William Allen recorded the early manufactures of Thomas Cock, in late 1804.
(See A history of platinum and its allied metals; Donald McDonald and Leslie B. Hunt, 1982, p139.)  Cock's refined Platinum was not pure, however.

It appear that the amounts indicated were ounces avoirdupois ("56 ounces" = 3.5 lb avd.); "Small Platina" refers to reduced sponge.

51 Troy Ounces platina > 30.9 Troy Ounces Refined Platinum = 65.81% purity

1804/5: 1 Troy Oz. Pt Sponge (33.4833 ozt  @ £ 30.20) =  £ 0.90
1804/5: 1 Troy Oz. Pt, refined (44.9833 ozt  @ £ 27.61) =  £ 0.6138

 33.4833 ozt + 11.5 ozt = 44.98 ozt.

1804/5: 1 Troy Ounce platina (ore; whols.) = £ 0.2468 (USD$ 1.12)
1804/5: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (intrinsic) = £ 0.3751 (USD$ 1.71)
1804/5: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (refining cost) = £ 0.4452 (USD$ 2.) 
1804/5: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (producer price) = £ 0.82 (USD$ 3.71)
1804/5: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (mfg, retail) = £ 1.659 (USD$ 7.50)


The 1830 British Platinum Low gave pause for reflection; ~27 years earlier,Wollaston's Platinum was not yet sold in London.  Paris-imported Platinum, presuambly Jeanetty's, was 3-4 x higher (at least 35% higher than the Paris Price, to include merchant profit, importer's markup, plus any tariffs.)

1830: 1 Troy Ounce Platinum (Ru ingot) = £ 0.75 (USD$ )
c.1803: 1 Troy Ounce Platinum (ingot) = £ 2.44 - 3.00 (USD$ 10. -13.75) 

c.1798 - 1803:

Factoring the intrinsic rate cited in New York in 1802, early imported French Platinum-ware was likely sold at the Price of Fine Gold.

c.1804 (see 1839)

Gold's Specific Gravity is 19.32-19.33; Platinum is 21.45
Where Hammered Gold is 19.3617; Hammered Platinum should be 21.53

Refined, rolled & hammered Platinum was assumed to have an incorrect specific gravity of "22.07" : probably, ~12% Iridium