A PLATINUM STANDARD

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 30, 5 February 1927, Page 20

A PLATINUM STANDARD

ASKED FOE BJ DEALERS IN

METAL.

After years "of discussion a national law to govern, the stamping of platinum has been framed by the dealers ,m this preeibu§ metal, states the "New York Times;??;: It-has been found to be very important .that articles of platinum and white g6ld-shpuldi:.bear a'definite mark, reguia'tediby'iaWjlto indicate the quality; of the metal./ Unless a definite standard; is recognised^ '^hopeless confusion may follow and;no: one Owning platinum in .any form 'can' be certain of the value of ;His; property; A'similar confusion, existed in the laws ■ regulating the marking of- gold and silver, which was definitely removed by the national Stamping Lawi passed as reSently as 1906: .--. .:-/O-.. - ,

. The "problem 'of "standards - for the preciqus metala is very old. When ,the, Banians ■ levied tributes payable in "silver ■on the ' Carthaginians,^ there ' was wide difference of opinion as 4o the quality of the silver in. question. The Carthaginians maintained that' their silver was silver and the obligation was fulfilled. The Romans had a different standard and Liyy lecorda that "the tribute was impure, and on application of the fire assay was found to be deficient in value by one-fourth."

Laws were passed in England as early as 1300 to govern the assaying of precious metals. The oldest and most familiar mark applied to silverware is "Sterling," which dates back to the twelfth century. -The mark indicates a fineness of .925 parts of silver, the remainder being alloys, usually copper, added to give better working qualities' than those of pure silver, which is too soft. At that time certain, merchants used silver coins of their own minting, which came to be known as Easterlings, the name being changed in time to Sterling. For centuries Sterling has meant silver of a definite known quality. Counterfeiting is very ancient, but the standardisation of taetals has been of great assistance in combating ifc Attempts to regulate the precious metals industry in America were made as early as 1756, when a Bill was introduced in the Provisional Council of Pennsylvania to "ascertain the fineness of wrought gold and silver and prevent frauds and abuses in manufacturing thereof." The popularity of late of platinum in many kinds of jewellery has brought up now complications in standardisation.