Now offered is a sample of the renowned Northwest Africa 5000. Anorthositic rich, it originates from the lunar highlands. For a short while it was — at 11.53 kilograms — the largest lunar meteorite known. The meteorite was deemed sufficiently important that Meteoritical Society’s Nomenclature Committee bestowed the honorific identification “NWA 5000” to it out of sequence. Shortly after it was recovered it was on display at the Royal Ontario Museum and billed as the largest lunar meteorite ever to be displayed. Times change. Nearly 20 years later the largest Moon rock is now NWA 12760 which weighs 58 kg and is on display at the Maine Mineral & Gem Museum. Still, NWA 5000 will forever be a legendary meteorite.

33 x 26 x 8mm (1.33 x 1 x 0.33 in.) and 20.1 grams

Provenance: The Hupe Collection, Lake Placid, Florida

Estimate: $6,000 – 7,500 * Reserve: $5,000