The Discovery
The Excelsior Diamond was found June 30, 1893 at the Jagersfontein mine in South Africa by a miner named Kaffir (p. 186). He found it while shoveling gravel into a truck. He felt at risk due to the value and prestige of the large stone. He was seemingly frightened of his overseer and was very secretive about his truly monumental find. Kaffir hid it from his overseer, but eventually turned it over to the manager of the mine. He was rewarded with money and a horse and released from his contract. The first unfortunate event that occurred involved the ownership. On the day it was discovered, the contract expired between the mining company and the syndicate of London diamond buyers. Unfortunately, this meant the diamond was owned by people that didn't value its potential worth as a single significant stone. If it had been discovered within a brief period of time beforehand the diamond might have taken its place next to other famous diamonds such as The Cullinan or Hope Diamonds.
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