Composition: Silicon oxide
Nomenclature: From the Greek word amethystos which means "not drunken" because wearing the stone was thought to prevent intoxication.
Industrial Uses: Semi-precious gemstone, carvings, ornamental stone.
Additional Notes: A violet-to-purple variety of quartz. The color is the result of impurities which have been subjected to natural radioactive radiation. The color of amethyst may fade if the stone is exposed to sunlight for an extended period of time.
Austria : Scott B356 : 7+3 schilling : 25 May 1990
Amethyst (quartz)
Azerbaijan : Scott 422 : 20 manat : 15 Jun 1994
Amethyst (quartz)
Brazil : Scott 2199 : 1.50 new cruzado : 12 Jul 1989
Amethyst (quartz)
Bulgaria : Scott 3899 : 7 leva : 20 Nov 1995
Amethyst (quartz)
French Southern and Antarctic Territories : Scott 222 : 1.00 franc : 1 Jan 1997
Amethyst (quartz)
Germany, DDR : Scott 1357 : 25 pfennige : 22 Feb 1972
Amethyst (quartz)
Germany, DDR : Scott 1607 : 25 pfennige : 17 Dec 1974
Amethyst (quartz)
Kenya : Scott 105 : 1 shilling : 13 Dec 1977
Amethyst (quartz)
Korea, DPR : Stanley Gibbons N3513 : 20 chon : 2 May 1995
Amethyst (quartz)
New Zealand : Scott 758 : 4 cent : 1 Dec 1982
Amethyst (quartz)
Russia : Scott 2826 : 6 kopecks : 26 Dec 1963
Amethyst (quartz)
Switzerland : Scott B285 : 30+10 centimes : 1 Jun 1959
Amethyst (quartz)
Uruguay : Scott 828 : 5 pesos : 7 Oct 1972
Amethyst (quartz)
United States : Scott 1540 : 10 cents : 13 Jun 1974
Amethyst (quartz)
Zimbabwe : Scott 502 : 17 cents : 21 Aug 1985
Amethyst (quartz) geode