Sperrylite (Carl Davis competitive Thumbnail Coll.)

Item Description

The Talnakh Deposit has produced the world's finest example of this uncommon platinum arsenide. This very fine, sharp modified thumbnail cube has splendent silver-metallic color and luster. The corner modifications add striking pizzazz. The bruised back and base are mostly out-of-sight in the displays views. Occasionally available in the 1990s, new sperrylite specimens are unheard of today in the Western market, as Russia has forbidden the export of strategic metals, including platinum. Choice and now rare sperrylite from the Carl Davis Thumbnail Collection. Valued at $1800-2000. As a personal note, this I sone of the older sperrylites, from when they first came out by some intermediary for the Russian government or mint, to Tucson in the 1990s. Carlton told me how he had to pass security guards to get in the room with all the platinum materials. Long time ago....