Letters to the Editor: The platinum coins

I was interested to read your article First Platinum Mine — Where? Who? and surprised to see the statement that it was the Swiss who started minting 1-oz platinum coins.

We believe the first platinum coins were the Russian roubles issued by Tsar Nicholas in the 1830s. Since then the only legal tender platinum coin in general circulation has come from the Isle of Man where the 1-oz Noble was launched in 1983.

We are proud to have been associated with that coin which has established itself on the international stage with sales of more than one-quarter million in its brief history.

We wonder, therefore, which coin your article refers to and would very much appreciate your enlightenment. We feel also that your readers may be interested. James F. T. Wheen Platinum Noble Dept. Ayrton Metals Ltd. London, England Editor’s Note: We stand corrected. It was indeed the tiny Isle of Man’s Noble that was the first legal tender platinum coin after that early Russian issue. The 0.999 one-ounce Swiss coin, which featured William Tell, was issued in July, 1986. Thanks for writing us.