Composition: Carbon
Nomenclature: Named after the Greek word adamas which means "invincible" because of its hardness.
Industrial Uses: Abrasives, precious gemstones.
Additional Notes: Pure carbon forms one of the softest minerals (graphite) and the hardest natural substance (diamond). Despite diamond's unequalled hardness (resistance to scratching) diamond cleaves (breaks along flat planes) easily when struck sharply. When placed in a flame, diamond will burn completely without leaving an ash. Diamonds stick to grease and cannot be wet with water--a property which is used to separate diamonds from crushed rock and dirt. Industrial diamonds, which are used for abrasives, are sometimes referred to as bort or carbonado.
Andorra, French : Scott 191 : 70 centimes : 27 Sep 1969
Diamond
Angola : Scott 555 : 2.5 escudo : 31 Oct 1970
Diamond
Angola : Scott 637 : 16 kwanza : 23 Dec 1980
Diamond
Australia : Scott 1555 : $1.20 : 1996
[holographic]
Diamond
Belgium : Scott 617 : 2 francs : 23 Jan 1965
Diamond
Belgium : Scott 1155 : 10 francs : 24 Oct 1983
Diamond
Belgium : Scott 1430 : 27 francs : 9 Mar 1992
Diamond
Belgium : Scott B682 : 3+1 francs : 5 Dec 1960
Diamond
Botswana : Scott 61 : 35 cents : 23 Mar 1970
Diamond (Orapa Diamond Mine)
Botswana : Scott 341 : 7 thebe : 19 Mar 1984
Diamond
Central Africa : Scott 62 : 25 francs : 14 Mar 1966
Diamond
Comoro Islands : Scott 930e : 375 francs : 1998
Diamond
Congo Democratic Republic : Scott 636 : 9.8 makuta : 2 May 1969
Diamond
France : Scott 1256 : 70 centimes : 27 Sep 1969
Diamond
Ghana : Scott 54 : 4 pence : 5 Oct 1959
Diamond
Ghana : Scott 219 [o/p #54] : 4 pesewas : 19 Jul 1965
Diamond
Ghana : Scott 257 : 15 pesewas : Sep 1966
Diamond
Ghana : Scott 278 [o/p #54] : 3-1/2 new pesewas : 27 Feb 1967
Diamond
Ghana : Scott 824 : 80 pesewas : 10 Mar 1983
Iron ore; Diamond; Bauxite; Gold
Israel : Scott C47 : 3 pounds : 7 Feb 1968
Diamond
Ivory Coast : Scott 332 : 40 francs : 4 Nov 1972
Diamond
Niuafo'ou : Scott 111A : 13 shillings : 3 May 1993
Diamond
Namibia : Scott 683 : 40 cents : 2 Jan 1991
Diamond
Tanzania : Scott 227 : 5 shillings : 12 Sep 1983
Diamond
Tanzania : Scott 313 : 40 shilling : 22 May 1986
Diamond