Galena

Unknown Owner

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This hefty galena specimen is really impressive in person. It is just a little bit more metallic, lustrous, sharp, and symmetric than most in this size class. It is nearly undamaged, and complete all around, except for a few minor contacts. Together, those qualities really make it stand out from the crowd - and yes, tonnage quite literally was mined here. Nevertheless, out of all the thousands of specimens that came out in the heyday here, this is definitely in the top percentile as far as the subtle qualities that make it appealing to a collector can be judged. It was long in the Steve Neely collection, and then sold in 1997 with that collection. It was purchased then by French collector Eric Asselborn for his own collection. So, it has graced the shelves of two notoriously picky (and knowledgeable) collectors who were looking for the very BEST of a find. Yes, it looks expensive in flat photos. No question, it IS expensive and I am sure each of them felt the same way. However, this combination specimen, with its minor attached matrix, really looks stunning in person and is worth the premium if you have seen the tables of slightly less perfect material and always wanted one that is "a little better." It is so sharp, and so symmetric, that this looks more like a Spanish pyrite in its simple geometry, than anything. 9.5 pounds weight! One of the few of these relatively common specimens in collections that has ever floored me, visually.