Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 52

Manuscript, Collectibles and Aerospace Auction

Meteorites

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 537		IRON AND STONY METEORITE NECKLACE. This 18 inch long plus a 2.5 inch silver extension meteorite necklace is made up of 44 10mm polished rectangular stony meteorite beads of NWA 869 stony meteorite found in the Sahara desert in 2000 plus a 3 inch long custom made sterling silver pendant made from a 1.25 inch Sikhote-Alin iron-nickel meteorite from Siberia, a Black Star gemstone and a sterling silver flame to indicate the meteorites fiery descent through the Earth�s atmosphere. Each of the 44 rectangular stony meteorite beads has its own individual pattern showing flecks of metal (iron) as well as chondrites. Chondrites are the very first material that formed out of the hot solar gases that formed the solar system and are currently being studied by scientists to learn the composition of the original building blocks of the solar system. Also included is a limited edition 1.9 inch bronze medal with a description of and an actual piece of the NWA 869 stony meteorite embedded in the medal. Add $15 for domestic shipping. Estimated Value $500 - 750. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $633
Lot 538		LIBYAN DESERT GLASS AND INDOCHINITE TEKTITES. Tektites are a mixture of earth rocks mixed with a sprinkling of meteorite material from an immense explosive event that occurred when a very large rocky meteorite vaporized before impacting the earth. The resulting mixture forms glass-like mixture. The color is usually black such as the 303 gram 4.25 x 2.0 inch large specimen from Thailand. It can also be green or yellow such as the 383 gram 4.25 x 2.5 inch large specimen of Libyan Desert Glass. Both specimens are much larger than normally found and possess the characteristic surface of small craters that resulted from gasses escaping when they were solidifying in the atmosphere before being redeposited on the ground. The large 383 gram specimen of Libyan Desert Glass, found in the Sahara desert near the border between Libya and Egypt, is especially valuable as a 125 gram specimen sold for over $6000 in a New York auction in October, 2007. This an opportunity to acquire two large very different types of tektites. Add $15 for domestic shipping. Estimated Value $500 - 750. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 539		Meteorite. Meteorite dug near Orem, Utah. 3¾ x 2". Estimated Value $400 - 550. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 540		METEORITE 30 POUND CAMPO DEL CIELO WITH HOLE. This huge 9.5 x 8 x 4 inch 30 pound iron-nickel meteorite is not only esthetically pleasing with a plethora of regmaglypts covering most of its surface but also has a small natural hole in the thinnest part of a huge 2 inch regmaglypt. Regmaglypts looking something like thumbprints form when the meteorite enters the atmosphere at a high velocity creating very high temperatures that selectively melt the pockets of Troilite (iron sulfide) much more readily than the iron-nickel matrix. These regmaglypts are what give iron-nickel meteorites their character. Because of the density of iron-nickel meteorites, holes rarely form and can only occur when a pocket of Troilite burns all the way through during melting. Known as Campo del Cielo (field of the sky), these meteorites fell from the sky over 4000 years ago in Gran Chaco Gualamba, Argentina and were written about in 1576 by the Spanish governor who learned about them from the local Indians who believed that the iron stones fell from the sky. A large 60 ton meteorite known as Meson de Fiero (large table of iron) was sent back by ship to Spain and melted down. The best specimens of Campos such as this one are known as new Campos as they are found higher up in the mountains and have not been worn down by rusting from rain water. Esthetically sculpted meteorites with a hole are worth two to three times as much as a similar size meteorite without the rare hole and are in great demand from meteorite collectors. Add $30 for domestic shipping. Estimated Value $3,000 - 3,500. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 541		METEORITE 7 POUND ORIENTED SIKHOTE-ALIN WITH FLOW LINES. This extremely large 7.5 x 4 x 2.5 inch 7 pound Sikhote-Alin Iron-Nickel meteorite is a very attractive and most interesting example of a shrapnel type Sikhote-Alin meteorite. It shows many features of the huge explosion that took place on Feb. 10, 1947 high above the Sikhote-Alin mountains of Siberia. The enormous explosion tore the meteorite into thousands of smaller pieces and knocked people off their feet several miles away from the blast. There were at least three different explosions of the meteorite. The first explosion was much higher up in the atmosphere and the meteorites from this initial explosion exhibit regmaglypts(thumbprints) from melting for a longer time in the earth�s atmosphere. The second and third explosions occurred much closer to the ground and these meteorites show the ripping force of the explosion resulting in sharp edges and there was not enough time to form the regmaglypts. This huge 7 pound meteorite shows many signs of the explosive shearing force with many sharp edges, distinctive attractive gun metal color, and dozens of delicate flow lines on one side that flow in several directions resulting from melting from the high temperatures created in passing through the atmosphere. Most meteorite specimens tumble as they fall and thus do not retain the flow lines of an oriented meteorite that does not tumble and melts on only one side. Only the freshest iron-nickel meteorites retain these delicate flow lines as they quickly rust away. This Sikhote-Alin meteorite is worth a premium as oriented meteorites are worth two to three times as much as the normal specimen. Add $30 for domestic shipping. Estimated Value $1,600 - 2,000. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 542		METEORITE AMERICAN PALLASITE BRENHAM. The Brenham pallasite fell to earth some 1,000-2,000 years ago in Kiowa County near Haviland, Kansas. It is the most famous of all American pallasites and was perhaps the largest fall of a pallasite in recorded history with over 6 tons of recovered meteorites. Although the local Indians knew of this meteorite, it was not officially discovered until 1882 and designated a pallasite which is a mixture of an iron-nickel matrix with crystals of olivine. This large 4.5 x 4 inch 173.5 gram section has many olivine crystals in the iron-nickel matrix including several crystals that are translucent and a rare Peridot green color. Peridot is the gemstone version of olivine and at least a couple of these crystal are not shocked and clear enough to be considered Peridot. Olivine crystals in most Pallasites is usually a yellow color and much more desirable when the color is more green. This beautiful and quite large section also possesses its original fusion crust on three of its sides and comes in a 12 x 8 inch Riker mount with certificate of authenticity and a picture of the largest 1400 pound Brenham meteorite found. Add $15 for domestic shipping. Estimated Value $1,100 - 1,400. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $1,035
Lot 543		METEORITE BLADE BEAR KNIFE. This large and heavy 10 inch meteorite bear knife has a 5.25 x 1.25 inch 100% meteorite blade made from the highly desired Gibeon iron-nickel meteorite. Gibeon meteorites are highly praised by collectors for their fantastic Widmanstatten pattern that is revealed when they are etched as this one has been. The unique patterns result from the two different alloys of Nickel taking the etch differently and are what defines and separates iron-nickel meteorites from all rocks on earth. This knife has a superb deep etch that also has interesting graphite and black Chromite inclusions in the matrix. This is a unique design that will never be duplicated and has been expertly crafted with sterling silver walking grisly bears on both sides of the sterling silver guard as well a roaring grisly head on the silver end cap. The handle is made from exotic Amboyna Burl from Indonesia. Large knives like this are rarely made because a lot of the rare meteorite is lost in cutting and the Gibeon meteorite from the Great Nama Land of Namibia Africa was worth many hundreds of dollars. This unique collectible would be the highlight of any collection. Add $25 for domestic shipping. Estimated Value $1,250 - 1,550. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $1,323
Lot 544		METEORITE BRAHIN PALLASITE. Pallasites are indeed "Gemstones" from space as they are a rare type of iron-nickel meteorite that has beautiful olivine crystals interspersed in the iron-nickel matrix and when cut and polished yield unbelievable translucent crystals of yellow/green olivine. The first Brahin Pallasite meteorite was discovered in 1810 by farmers in the Minsk, Belorussia region of Russia. In the 200 years since then only eleven meteorites have been found from this fall totaling about 1000kgs. This large 61.7 gram 3 x 2.75 inch polished specimen displays many translucent golden yellow olivine crystals evenly interspersed throughout the iron-nickel matrix and even has original fusion crust on the top. This is a good opportunity to acquire a large beautiful pallasite without paying $35 to $40 per gram that must be paid for most of the other known falls. Housed in a 5.5 x 4.5 inch Riker Mount. Add $15 for domestic shipping. Estimated Value $500 - 700. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 545		METEORITE ETCHED GIBEON SLICE. Gibeon iron-nickel meteorites are in very high demand as they are hard to find and possess the most beautiful internal crystalline structure when cut and etched. Gibeon meteorites were found in the Kalahari desert of Namibia, Africa from a fall the occurred thousands of years ago. This large 5.25 x 4x.4 inch 1002 gram (over 2.2 pounds) section has an extremely detailed beautiful fine octahedral Widmanstatten pattern. This interesting geometric pattern resulted from the separation of two alloys of nickel, taenite and kamicite that occurred on the large parent asteroid before it was blown apart early in the formation of the solar system. This crystalline pattern does not exist on any rocks on earth and only forms when the iron core of the asteroid cools very slowly at no more than one degree Celsius per million years. This slice is from an old collection and has the original fusion crust on top and is protected in a 8 x 6 inch Riker mount. Add $25 for domestic shipping. Estimated Value $1,200 - 1,500. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 546		METEORITE FROM METEOR CRATER. This large 4.5 x 3.5 x 2 inch over 4 pound Canyon Diablo iron-nickel meteorite is a hard to find large sized specimen of the most sought after iron meteorites by collectors. Most available Canyon Diablo meteorites are just a few grams in weight. Any specimens are hard to come by as the area around Meteor Crater near Winslow, Arizona has been closed for years. The nearly one mile in diameter crater was created over 50,000 years ago when a 50 foot in diameter meteor exploded high over the Arizona desert. This excellent quality meteorite possesses all of the qualities desired in a Canyon Diablo meteorite, excellent shape with a peak, gunmetal color and several distinctive regmaglypts (thumbprints) including a deep one beneath the peak. A copy of the Meteor Crater Exploration & Mining Company stock certificate of the failed attempt to retrieve iron from within the crater(there wasn�t any) is also enclosed. Add $25 for domestic shipping. Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,250. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $863
Lot 547		METEORITE JEWELRY STONY METEORITE AND MOLDAVITE. This lot offers a very rare opportunity to purchase jewelry that was handmade out of genuine stony meteorites and custom designed to represent the ultimate in fine jewelry. To be able to cut up meteorites to make jewelry is a rare luxury due to the rarity and high value of nearly all meteorites. Fortunately enough meteorites were found in 1999 in Algeria of one large fall (almost 1500 Kg) to allow a small portion to be made available to be used in jewelry. There will not be any more cut into jewelry since as much as 80% of the meteorite is lost in the cutting. The stony meteorite has been assigned the name of North West Africa 869 and has been classified as a L4 or L5 breccia. All stony meteorites contain iron and all designated with a H for high iron content or L for low iron content and breccia means that the meteorite is a mixture of several different types of rocks that were mixed together when the two asteroids that created this meteorite collided billions of years ago. This unusual meteorite necklace is 18 inches long with a 2.5 inch sterling silver extension and is made up of 93 polished irregular shaped NWA 869 meteorite pieces and has a large 1.75X1 inch gem quality piece of Moldavite in a sterling silver bezel. Moldavite is a translucent green glass that formed from a meteorite impact in Germany over 20 million years age that formed the Ries-Nordlingen crater and today is found over 250 miles away in the Czech Republic. Moldavite is considered to be a gem stone and even today is quite often given by a groom to his bride in the Czech Republic. Also, included is a limited edition of only 1,000 large 1.9 inch diameter bronze medal with an actual piece of the NWA 869 meteorite embedded in the obverse plus a certificate of authenticity. Add $15 for domestic shipping. Estimated Value $550 - 700. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $489
Lot 548		METEORITE SECTION FROM VESTA. A very special type of stony meteorite known as Eucrites and be spectral analysis are know to have as their origin the asteroid Vesta. The moon, Mars and Vesta are the only planetary bodies in our solar system where we can positively identify meteorites that originated from their surface. Vesta is a very large asteroid with a diameter of over 326 miles and has a gigantic impact crater on one of its ends that is so deep that it exposes the asteroid�s interior. Eucrites are Achondrites which are the rarest of all of the stony meteorites and can only form on large differentiated bodies that have volcanic activity. About 37 small meteorites of Dhofar 007 weighing only 21Kg were found in the Dhofar region of central Oman on Dec. 4, 1999. Dhofar 007 is a brecciated cumulate that formed from the impact of a large asteroid that hit Vesta. This large 4.25 x 2.5 inch section weighing 83 grams is large enough to show both types of rocks from Vesta and the impactor with both grayish and light brown rocks mixed together with flecks of iron and also thin lines known as impact melt veins as well as its original fusion crust along the irregular edge. This important meteorite tells a story about an event that happened billions of years ago in the asteroid belt. Add $15 for domestic shipping. Estimated Value $800 - 1,000. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 549		METEORITE: 8.5 POUND CAMPO DEL CIELO. This large 5.75 x 5 x 3 inch 8.5 pound Campo del Cielo iron-nickel meteorite has an esthetic shape rarely found in Campos with its iron-nickel surface covered with desirable regmaglypts (thumbprints) that formed when the meteor passed through Earth�s atmosphere. In addition there are some regmaglpts that are deeply sculpted in the meteorite making for an exceptional display. First recorded by the Spanish in 1576, the huge fall of Campo del Cielo (Valley of the Sky) iron-nickel meteorites occurred thousands of years before. The best quality Campos such as this splendid specimen were recovered high in the mountains where their surface was not rusted away by ground water. The Campo field has been mostly explored and the price of quality Campos is rising dramatically as new specimens are getting to be very difficult to locate and demand for meteorites has been steadily increasing. A five pound Campo del Cielo meteorite sold for over $3000 in a New York auction in September, 2007. Add $20 for domestic shipping. Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,250. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold