The E-Sylum:  Volume 7, Number 16, April 18, 2004, Article 11

SMOLNY MEDAL AND PLATINUM IN NUMISMATICS

  J. Moens of Dilbeek, Belgium, writes: "In the last E-Sylum,
  one of your readers asked where he could find a picture
  of the medal struck for the construction of the Smolny
  Cathedral completed in 1835."
  [An image of the medal was included. -Editor]

  "It is taken from a bronze medal, offered in an auction by
  World Wide Coins of California.  Please note that this medal
  is also known in platinum, but it is almost certain that this
  off-metal strike was made in Paris in 1859, by French
  scientists who were able to melt platinum, provided by the
  Russian government.  It is proven that the Paris Mint struck
  38 medals in platinum in that year, using dies from the Saint
  Petersbourg Mint.  Melting platinum had been impossible up
  to then, and was certainly so in 1835.  Readers who are
  interested in a numismatic history of platinum, may request a
  copy of an article I published on the topic last year (only
  available in Dutch)."

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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