This paper reviews the use and relation of the word ‘ptène’ to osmium. While Smithson Tennant discovered osmium in platinum ore in 1804, the French chemists Antoine-François Fourcroy and Nicolas-Louis Vauquelin simultaneously identified in a platinum residue a metal they called ‘ptène’. This name was most probably attributed to a mixture of platinoids (excluding platinum), mainly osmium and iridium. Nevertheless, Fourcroy later considered that ‘ptène’ was the name they attributed to osmium.
“Make possible the loyal execution of any honest order” Numa Droz, Member of Swiss Parliament and Federal Councillor (1877) Precious metals are subject to great scrutiny from lawmakers because of their financial and strategic importance. Gold and silver coins have been hallmarked since ancient times but the platinum group metals (pgm) were only known from 1748, therefore their hallmarking and fineness control is more recent. This paper reviews the legal history of pgm control in Switzerland where precious metal refiners’ and fine watchmakers’ lobbying impacted Swiss regulations on precious metals trade. Platinum and palladium have been regulated since 1914 and 1995 respectively while the other pgms (rhodium, iridium, osmium and ruthenium) are not.
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