The first European reference to platinum appears in 1557 in the writings of the Italian humanist Julius Caesar Scaliger as a description of an unknown noble metal found between Darién and Mexico, "which no fire nor any Spanish artifice has yet been able to liquefy".[60] From their first encounters with platinum, the Spanish generally saw the metal as a kind of impurity in gold, and it was treated as such. It was often simply thrown away, and there was an official decree forbidding the adulteration of gold with platinum impurities.[59]

[–] Rakonat@lemmy.world 65 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

So wait, the entire Roman empire existed before Europe had any idea what platinum was?

[–] PugJesus@lemmy.world 60 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Correct! It's insane how recent some understandings of the world around us are.

[–] Photuris@lemmy.ml 19 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

Wait, so why did it become valuable overnight?

[–] kadup@lemmy.world 56 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

It didn't happen overnight, but there are a ton of modern applications for platinum. Many of them use it as a very efficient catalyst, many reactions can be massively speed up or only happen when platinum is present.

[–] Hugin@lemmy.world 22 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

For example the Catalytic converter in gas cars usually use platinum as the catalyst. They brake down carbon monoxide and various nitrogen oxides.

[–] Mac@mander.xyz 5 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

Yes, because the carbon monoxide and various nitrogen oxides are usually travelling at grate speeds and must be slowed.

[–] acockworkorange@mander.xyz 4 points 2 weeks ago

Otherwise they'd be grated?

[–] PugJesus@lemmy.world 39 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

Essentially, they had to figure out how to isolate it from other metals entirely (you have to alloy it and then reduce it with acid) so it would have consistent visual and material qualities and could be reasonably worked. From that point on, the fact that it was both rare and pretty to look at made it immensely valuable, same basic reasons as gold, except NEW and EXCITING. Inside of a decade it went from worthless to the next big thing.

Aluminum had a similar treatment when it was discovered, becoming immensely valuable because it was pretty and novel, though its value dropped like a rock as easier methods of refining aluminum were discovered.

[–] tburkhol@lemmy.world 28 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

I love the story that Napolean went to the unimaginable luxury of having a whole set of aluminum tableware made up to awe his visitors.

[–] lemming741@lemmy.world 18 points 2 weeks ago

The cap on the Washington Monument is aluminum because it was so precious in 1884, comparable to silver.

https://evolutiondc.museum.gwu.edu/the-washington-monument-capstone/

[–] BastingChemina@slrpnk.net 5 points 2 weeks ago

The aluminum set was only for the most distinguished guests, the other guests had to eat with the less luxurious gold cutlery.

[–] CannedYeet@lemmy.world 12 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

It's an important ingredient in credit cards. Of course you have to invent credit cards first.

[–] edgemaster72@lemmy.world 6 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

I prefer my credit cards made with artificially scarce trash rocks, like diamonds, tyvm