After Peace, Sierra Leone Set to Sell Prosperity

RAPAPORT… Koin International will sell the fifth-largest rough diamond
in Sierra Leone’s history in a tender, the company said Monday.



Meya Mining, which recovered the 476-carat diamond last week
in the nation’s Kono district, has appointed the rough-tender specialist as marketing-and-sales
agent for the stone.

The diamond has been named the Meya Prosperity, after the
mine where workers found it, Koin said Monday. The companies have not released the
gem’s price or quality specifications.


Namibia-based conglomerate Trustco Group owns 51% of Meya
Mining, with the rest held by local company Germinate Sierra Leone. Trustco
bought the majority stake from Germinate in August 2016.


“Koin seems to know exactly what we want from this
remarkable diamond — the best price, prosperity and great publicity for our
diamonds and country,” said Minkailu Mansaray, Sierra Leone’s minister of mines
and mineral resources.

Earlier, the government appointed the Rapaport Group to sell the 709-carat Peace Diamond. The historic stone, which is the 14th largest ever found, has this week been on view in Antwerp and will soon transfer to New York before it is auctioned there on December 4.