Two billion years ago, at the dawn of life on earth, a colossal meteorite crashed in North America. When a star explodes, known as a supernova, debris in the form of meteorites are scattered out into the Universe.

 

Meteorites have a very high content of metals such as platinum.

 

 

Many more have since landed on earth.

 

 

We know from jewelry and other adornments found in Egyptian tombs dating back circa 1200 BC that gold containing traces of platinum was imported from the ancient kingdom of Nubia which was located in southern Egypt and northern Sudan.

 

This land now has one of the harshest climates in the world with high temperatures throughout most of the year and very little rainfall making it unable to support a large population.

In ancient times Nubia had great natural wealth derived from gold mining, ivory, ebony and incense all of which were highly coveted by neighboring civilizations. In the last hundred years excavations have revealed evidence of abandoned cities and vanished peoples, lost kingdoms and decipherable inscriptions.

It is not known whether the ancient Egyptians were aware of the properties and value of platinum or whether it’s use at that time was accidental.

The intentional use of the metal can be dated to 700 BC when Shepenupet, high priestess and daughter of the King of Thebes, was buried in a sarcophagus decorated with gold and platinum hieroglyphics and where a small casket made of platinum was found.

 

The next known appearance of platinum was amongst the ancient South American cultures around 100 BC. The Incas who are justly renowned for their ability as artistic precious metal workers created items of ceremonial jewellery from both gold and platinum.

 

In the late sixteenth century the Spanish conquistadors arrived in South America and set about plundering the wealth of gold gathered principally from the Incas. Interestingly enough they failed to appreciate the properties of platinum, treating it as an inferior metal to be discarded.

 

There are no further recordings of platinum for over 100 years until it became considered as an important ingredient in the alchemists search for a formula to change base metals, principally lead, into gold.

 

In 1751 the Swedish scientist Theophil Scheffer recognized the unique properties and rarity of platinum and declared it to be a precious metal.

 

Thirty years later Louis XVI of France had his jeweller, Marc Etienne Janety, design a number of platinum pieces and announced that platinum was the only metal fit for a king.

 

The rest of European Royalty were quick to follow suit with King Carlos III of Spain commissioning a magnificent platinum chalice to be presented to Pope Pius VI.

 

Although Louis XVI lost his head in the French revolution the enthusiasm for platinum was not diminished and its properties became increasingly appreciated.

 

As the Napoleonic era dawned the French introduced the Metric System to unify and simplify the previous plethora of types of weights and measures.

 

Marc Etienne Janety, who had fled the country to escape the terror, returned to France and was commissioned to create the standard kilogram weight out of platinum.

 

The metal was chosen as it will not corrode or wear away and being extremely durable the weight would be maintained as the standard.
 

 

The History of Platinum Part Two 

 

 

 

Palladium