Platinum coins

For the first time in the world, platinum was used to mint coins in Spanish America. After the discovery of platinum in gold-bearing rocks, the Spaniards could not find its application for a long time, because they did not have the technology for processing this metal. Cheap then platinum began to be used for various kinds of frauds, untreated platinum was given out as more expensive silver, and after the platinum was able to be melted with gold, counterfeiters began to add it to the alloy used to mint coins. After detecting violations of the law, in 1735, in accordance with the royal decree, all platinum mined was flooded at sea. Later, the practice of adding platinum in the form of a ligature to gold was adopted by the official authorities in Spain in order to lower the gold content of the coin ^[1] .

A mule made as part of an experiment on the use of platinum in coinage. For the obverse, a 9 pence token of the Bank of England of 1812 was used; for a reverse, a stamp of farting of 1825 was used

At the end of the 20s of the XIX century in the UK, as part of experiments on the use of platinum in coinage, a number of test coins were made from this metal. One of these coins has a farthing diameter and a weak coinage on the legend due to the hardness of platinum. For the obverse , a 9-pence token of the Bank of England of 1812 was used; for a reverse , a farting stamp of 1825 was used. Coins minted with stamps for minting different coins have the term “ mule ” in English numismatics. The date of 1825 is on the coin, but it is minted, most likely, a little later than the specified date. Like all trial coins, this farthing has a high historical and numismatic value. Also, this coin is interesting by the fact of placing on it a portrait of the monarch George III who had already died at the time of minting; since 1820 the Great Britain ruled George IV ^[2] .

The world's first official platinum coins for circulation were issued and were in circulation in the Russian Empire from 1828 to 1845. The choice of metal for making coins is explained by the fact that in 1819 the “new Siberian metal” was discovered - platinum. At first, only a few specks of metal were found in the rock, but in the second half of 1824 rich deposits of platinum were found and in 1825 its extraction began ^[5] . These discoveries prompted Demidov to begin the search for platinum in the vicinity of the Nizhny Tagil factories , where it was found in placers on the Sukho-Visim River. Platinum mining was very cheap ^[6] .

At the end of 1826, P. G. Sobolevsky (the founder of powder metallurgy), the chief probiere of the United Laboratory, invented a simple, easy, and convenient method for processing (purifying) platinum. The discovery of Sobolevsky prompted the idea of ​​using platinum for minting coins. The decree of April 24, 1828 noted that

To the decree of April 24, 1828, the “Description of the New Platinum Coin” was also attached.

The coinage began with a three ruble coin. The first minted coin was sent to Humboldt (after the death of the scientist, the first platinum three-ruble was bought by Emperor Alexander II and in 1859 this coin returned to Russia, now it is exhibited in the collection of coins of the Hermitage ) ^[7] . In 1829, “platinum duploons were established” (six-ruble), and in 1830, “quadruples” (twelve-ruble). Three ruble rubles were minted 1 371 691 pieces, six-ruble - 14 847 pieces and twelve-ruble - 3474 pieces ^[5] .

The choice of denominations was due to several reasons. First, the same forms were used for minting platinum coins as for minting a silver coin. The second reason was that platinum at that time was approximately 6 times more expensive than silver and, finally, the specific gravity of platinum was approximately two times greater than the specific gravity of silver ^{[8] [9]} . Thus, the platinum three rubles, in shape and diameter coinciding with 25 kopecks in silver, had a weight of two times and, therefore, the cost is 12 times more than a similar coin made of silver. The six-ruble coin was 12 times more expensive than fifty dollars , so the inscription on it reads “6 rubles for silver”, and ruble forms were used to make twelve-ruble coins.

For the minting of coins, native Ural platinum was used, not cleared of impurities of accompanying metals ( iridium , palladium and others), therefore the inscription on the reverse of such coins “... pure Ural platinum” should be understood only as evidence of the absence of alloying additives in the metal ^[11] .

In 1845, there was a fear, "that as a result of lower prices for platinum, a large number of fake platinum coins will appear." Therefore, on June 22, 1845, “in order to bring our monetary system into perfect harmony,” it was recognized “for the benefit of stopping the minting of the platinum coin altogether”, and within 6 months the platinum coins were withdrawn from circulation (883,212 rubles remained in the hands of the population ) ^[5] .

Since 1846, no platinum coin was minted, although by that time about 2,000 pounds (32,000 kg) of platinum had been mined, half of which (14,669 kg) was minted in coin. In 1846-1847, platinum was not mined, later it was produced in insignificant amounts.

All platinum accumulated in the St. Petersburg Mint in an amount of up to 32 tons ^[14] , both in the form of a coin and in its raw form, was sold to the English firm Johnson, Matthe and Co. As a result, England, which did not produce a single gram of platinum, was a monopolist in this industry for a long time ^[15] .

There are several versions of the termination of minting of platinum coins in Russia. In the 19th century, platinum was mined only in Russia and in Colombia ; therefore, it could not acquire the value of international money. Tradition also played a role: for a thousand years, there was no platinum among coin metals, people treated it with caution, fearing that when platinum deposits are discovered in other countries, it may depreciate ^[5] .

There were other reasons for stopping the minting of platinum coins. One of them is the comparative disadvantage of minting for the mint, because the cost of producing a three-ruble coin (excluding the cost of the metal) was 98 kopecks, or 33 kopecks per ruble, while minting a gold coin cost less than a kopeck per ruble ^[5] .

In 1859, Russia again raised the issue of minting coins from platinum. Academician B.S. Jacobi was involved in preparing proposals and studying the problem. As a result, in 1860, the published work On Platinum and its Use in the Form of Coins was published. Despite all the efforts of Academician B. S. Jacobi, his proposals were not accepted and the minting of platinum coins did not resume ^[16] .

After 1846, not a single country allowed itself the "luxury" to introduce platinum coins into circulation. Although to justify the frivolity of the Russian government, one can still say that in the 19th century platinum was still not so expensive and was 2.5 times cheaper than gold.

Currently, platinum coins of the Russian Empire, although regularly exhibited at numismatic auctions, are quite rare. Coins of 1839-1840 are especially rare, when two (1839) and one (1840) coins of each denomination were minted.

At the numismatic auction of the United Bank of Switzerland (UBS Gold and Silver Auction 50), held in autumn 2001 in Basel , one of two 12 ruble coins of 1839 was sold for almost 60.5 thousand US dollars with a starting price of a lot of 22 thousand ^[11] . The set of 1840 was at one time bought by the famous numismatist, Count I. I. Tolstoy, directly from the St. Petersburg Mint ^[11] .

In the Soviet Union, commemorative commemorative coins made of platinum were produced between 1977 and 1991. In total, 11 different coins with a face value of 150 rubles were issued. The first issue was dedicated to the Moscow Olympics .

At the 75th session of the International Olympic Committee on October 23, 1974 in Vienna , it was decided to hold the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. In preparation for the games, it was decided to issue commemorative coins. In addition to coins made of copper-nickel alloy, which were issued in multi-million copies (6 coins with a circulation of 5-9 million each), another 39 precious metal coins were devoted to the Olympic Games. These included 14 silver coins in denominations of 5 and 10 rubles (each 16.67 g and 33.3 g of silver of 900 tests, respectively), six 100-ruble coins of 900 gold (17.3 g) and 5 coins with a face value of 150 rubles from platinum 999 samples ^[17] .

Platinum coins of this series were issued in two versions - proof and UNC , and until 1977 Goznak mints did not mint proof quality coins (with a mirror background and matted image), and this technique was mastered specifically for the manufacture of Olympic-themed coins. The obverse of all coins in the series is the same. The emblem of the USSR occupies the central part of the field, the name of the state is divided into two parts by the emblem: “SS” and “CP”, at the bottom there is a denomination separated by a double line. Image artist and sculptor S. M. Ivanov ^[18] .

The circulation of Olympic platinum coins (about 20–35 thousand pieces of each type) was quite large. For comparison, platinum coins of Russia from the series "Russian Ballet" in 1993 came out in a circulation of 750 pieces. Despite this, quite a few of them remained in Russia. At the very least, finding a complete Olympic platinum set on the Moscow numismatic market is not quite simple ^[17] . This is partly due to the fact that a large number of coins were taken out by Soviet emigrants after the Olympics-80 abroad and settled in numismatic stores in America, Europe and Israel ^[17] .

Since 1977, commemorative commemorative coins have been issued annually, however, after the Olympic series, they returned to minting platinum coins in the USSR only in 1988. On September 13, 1988 ^[23] the series “The 1000th Anniversary of Old Russian Coin Minting, Literature, Architecture, and Baptism of Rus” was released. The series consisted of two silver coins with a face value of 3 rubles ( St. Sophia Cathedral in Kiev and Vladimir Srebrenik ), two gold coins of St. Sophia Cathedral in Novgorod and Vladimir Zlatnik with a face value of 50 and 100 rubles, respectively, as well as a platinum coin in 150 rubles “ The word about Igor’s regiment ” and a palladium coin of 25 rubles “Monument to Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavich”. In 1988, at the International Numismatic Convention in Basel, she was recognized as the best series of coins of this year in the world and she received the main prize for workmanship ^[24] . Subsequent issues of historical series included, in particular, the “500th anniversary of the united Russian state” (3 platinum coins) and the “250th anniversary of the discovery of Russian America ”. On the obverse, created by A.V. Baklanov, there is the emblem of the USSR, below it is the name of the state of the USSR, below on the sides, separated by dashes, a mint mark (on the right), sample and mass of pure metal (on the left) in the lower part of the field the coin denomination is indicated in two lines 150 / rubles, the bottom year ^[23] .

Since 1992, 16 different coins ^[30] have been issued in Russia with a face value of 25 (weight 1/10 ounce ), 50 (1/4 ounce) and 150 (1/2 ounce) rubles. Platinum coins came out in the series: “The Age of Enlightenment. XVIII century ”,“ Olympic Age of Russia ”,“ Russian Ballet ”,“ Geographical ”and“ Historical ”series.

Since 1996, the issue of platinum coins has been suspended. The last coin was platinum 150 rubles, dedicated to the battle of Russian soldiers with Swedish knights on the Neva in 1240 ^[11] .

Платиновые монеты выпускались не только в России и СССР, но и других государствах. Это исключительно инвестиционные монеты. Наиболее известными серийными выпусками платиновых монет являются: «Платиновый орёл» (США), «Платиновый нобль» и «Платиновая кошка» ( остров Мэн ), «Платиновый кленовый лист» (Канада), «Платиновая панда» (Китай) и «Платиновый коала» (Австралия). Эти монеты называют серийными, потому что дизайн реверса и аверса монеты каждого года совпадает или схож со всеми монетами из данной серии. Так, например, на аверсе всех монет из серии «Платиновый орёл» изображена голова статуи Свободы . На китайской серии «Платиновой панды» изображена большая панда (китайский национальный символ). Аналогичная схожесть дизайна прослеживается и в сериях «Платиновая кошка» и «Платиновый коала».

Кроме схожести дизайна, эти монеты объединяют в серии потому, что выпускаются они ежегодно на протяжении некоторого периода времени. Например, «Платиновая панда» выпускалась с 1987 по 2005 год, а монеты серии «Американский платиновый орёл» ( American Platinum Eagle ) — с 1997 по сегодняшний день.

«Американский платиновый орёл»

«Американский платиновый орёл» ( American Platinum Eagle ) — официальные платиновые инвестиционные монеты Соединённых Штатов . Монеты номиналом в 10, 25, 50 и 100 долларов состоят из платины 0,9995 и имеют вес ¹ ⁄ ₁₀ , ¼, ½ и 1 тройскую унцию соответственно. Их впервые выпустили в 1997 году. Дизайн аверса , использовавшийся в 1997—2017 годах, был создан гравёром ^[51] .

Особенность серии состоит в наличии нескольких типов выпуска. Один, представляет монеты состояния « proof », предназначен для частных лиц, в то время как второй, состояния UNC , исключительно для авторизованных фирм, банков и других структур. Второй выпуск носит исключительно инвестиционный характер и содержит стандартное изображение реверса, идентичное таковому монет состояния proof 1997 года ^[52] . Реверс коллекционных монет различается от года к году, в то время как инвестиционных неизменен в течение более 20 лет. «Платиновых орлов» чеканят на и , о чём свидетельствует знак монетного двора «W» на реверсе ^[51] или его отсутствие.

После резких колебаний цен на платину в 2008 году, когда цена за тройскую цену металла упала с $2200 в марте до $800 летом ^[53] , продолжение чеканки монет серии «Платиновый орёл» было поставлено под сомнение. В октябре 2009 года монетный двор официально заявил о прекращении выпуска для инвесторов (вновь их стали чеканить только в 2016 году). В декабре 2009 года монета появилась исключительно качества «proof» для коллекционеров. С этого года прекратили производить монеты номиналом в 10, 25 и 50 долларов ^[54] .

Изображения на монетах содержат символы прославдяющие США. Так к примеру на серии «Vistas of Liberty» («Достопримечательности Свободы») 1998—2002 годов белоголовый орлан пролетает над различными характерными для США ландшафтами ^{[55] [56]} . Серия 2006—2008 годов представляет три ветви власти ^[57] . В 2009 году монетный двор США объявил о шестилетнем плане выпуска новой серии платиновых монет. Серия посвящена основным принципам демократии США, закреплённых американской конституцией ^[58] . В 2017 году, в честь двадцатилетия выпуска, на реверс поместили первоначальное изображение 1997 года ^[59] . С 2018 года предполагают менять изображения на аверсе, а на реверсе оставить неизменным ^[60] .

Серии платиновых монет Канады

Большой ассортимент платиновых монет выпустили на монетном дворе Канады в Оттаве . Их чеканят с 1988 года. В этом году появились первые монеты номиналом в 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 и 50 канадских долларов с содержанием ¹ ⁄ ₂₀ , ¹ ⁄ ₁₅ , ¹ ⁄ ₁₀ , ¼, ½ и 1 тройской унции платины. На их реверсе изобразили официальную эмблему Канады кленовый лист . Монеты серии « » чеканили с 1988 по 2002 год с перерывами, а затем с 2009 года и по сегодняшний день, только уже номиналами в 300, 150, 75 и 30 канадских долларов ^[77] . В 2018 году, по поводу 30-летия начала выпуска, выпустили памятную монету с цифрами «1988 2018» ^{[78] [79] [80]} .

Кроме монет с изображением кленового листа в Канаде также ежегодно с 1992 года выпускают деньги из платины с изображениями представителей местной фауны ^{[79] [80]} .

Австралийский «Платиновый коала»

«Платиновый коала» — самая известная серия платиновых монет Австралии. 18 июня 1987 года австралийское правительство одобрило чеканку монет из платины и серебра и приравняла такие монеты к законным средствам платежа ^[81] . Это решение было принято на основании успеха и большой популярности, выпущенных годом ранее золотых монет. Как результат, в сентябре 1988 года на монетном дворе в городе Перт начался выпуск серии «Платиновый коала» ^[81] . Чтобы развить успех выпуска монет из драгоценных металлов, в 1991 году были впервые отчеканены монеты весом в 1 килограмм, 10 унций и 2 унции из серебра, золота и платины. На тот момент это были самые большие по весу инвестиционные монеты ^[81] .

The obverse, designed by designer Raphael MacLough, traditionally depicts Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain. The reverse of the coins of each year contains an image of a koala . The author of the design of most of the images on the reverse is James Brown. His initials (JB) are present on most coins. Coins of one year are issued with different contents of pure metal - from 1/20 ounce to 1 kg ^[82] , and, therefore, of different denominations.

The Platinum Koala has never competed in popularity with the American Platinum Eagle in the investment coin market, at least in the USA ^[88] . This is mainly due to the lack of active steps to promote the coin on the American market, and not because of the low artistic quality or inappropriate quality of coinage.

Coins of the Platinum Koala series, like most investment platinum coins, are issued in protective plastic capsules. Coins are sold at prices that reflect current platinum prices, and not at their face value indicated on the coin.

The Perth Mint only from November 1986 to December 2001 used more than 18 tons of platinum to mint coins ^[89] , about 85% of which were sold abroad. Due to this fact, Gold Corporation (a corporation owning a mint) was included in the list of thirty most successful export companies in Australia ^[89] .

Chinese Platinum Panda

"Platinum Panda" - a series of platinum coins of China, issued from 1987 to 2005 ^[90] . On the reverse of all coins there is an image of a panda , the national symbol of China, which gave the name to the entire series of coins.

From 1987 to 1990, the People's Bank of China minted 8,300 single ounce coins with a face value of 100 yuan , which are currently scarce in the numismatic market. An additional 5450 ounces of platinum were used in the 1990–2000s for coins of lesser denomination ^[90] . The release of Platinum Panda was discontinued in 2005. To a large extent, this is due to the increasing price of raw materials. If in 1990 the price per troy ounce did not exceed $ 490 ^[91] , then in the summer of 2008 it crossed the line of $ 2000 ^[91] .

It is worth noting that the 2002 coin was a jubilee and was dedicated to the twentieth anniversary of the launch of the Golden Panda - a series of gold coins depicting pandas. So, the design of its obverse was the same as that of the other “panda” coins of 2002, but the reverse repeated the obverse of the 1982 gold coin ^[92] .

Isle of Man Platinum Series

Historically, the Isle of Man has developed a tradition of parallel circulation of the British pound and local local currency ^[94] . They are equivalent in value to each other and exchange 1 to 1, while the pounds of Maine are not legal tender in other areas of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland . Possessing a certain independence in the choice of images and metal for their money, the Isle of Man started minting platinum coins back in 1975 ^[95] . The first issue consisted of daily ½ ^[96] , 1 ^[97] , 2 ^[98] , 5 ^[98] , 10 ^[99] , 50 ^[100] pence, only in platinum. Subsequently, they were repeatedly repeated in other years ^[101] .

In addition to periodically issued platinum pence and pounds, the for the Isle of Man actively issue platinum coins denominated in obsolete monetary units - crowns and nobles (1983-1994 with interruptions). On the reverse of platinum crowns and their fractional ones, various cat breeds are predominantly placed. There are other subjects, such as the flower of a tulip ^[102] , castle ^[103] , kangaroo ^[103], and others. Nobles contain images of the ship. Both their fractional and derivatives are produced, based on the content in the noble of a troy ounce of pure platinum ^[104] .