The Butte Nugget

ranshdow · October 22, 2014 7:57AM

<< SAN FRANCISCO - Oct. 21, 2014—Rare coin experts, Kagin’s Inc., today announced the discovery of one of the largest natural California gold nuggets ever seen. The treasure was found by a California man who was prospecting for gold on public land in Butte County, California in July of this year. The nugget, which weighs over 70-ounces, is estimated to be worth somewhere between $350,000 and $450,000. “Large California nuggets are incredibly rare and valuable,” noted Donald Kagin Ph.D., president of Kagin’s Inc. of Tiburon, California, “in 2010, a man contacted us claiming to have discovered a 98-ounce nugget on his property also in northern California. After auctioning the piece for $460,000, we were made aware that it was actually found in Australia where such giant nuggets are more common. We immediately refunded the buyer, paid his agent a commission, resold the piece as an Australian specimen to the second highest bidder for a lesser amount, retained our commission and paid the original consignor (who wanted to use the nugget sale to sell his property) the balance. Everyone was satisfied with the outcome, and we are excited about another opportunity to offer such an historically important gold nugget.” The Butte Nugget, as it is being called, is among the largest known California nuggets, and may be the biggest example from the Golden State in private hands. After unearthing the treasure, the prospector contacted Kagin’s senior numismatist, David McCarthy, who evaluated the nugget and confirmed its provenance. “Fortunately, the discoverer of the Butte Nugget photographed its excavation step by step. I was able to use his pictures to positively identify the location where the gold was discovered,” said McCarthy. “Nuggets like this don’t come along every day – I really didn’t believe that I would see a California nugget of this size unearthed during my lifetime.” The Butte Nugget will be displayed at the San Francisco Fall Antiques Show, held at the Festival Pavilion at Fort Mason, from Thursday, October 23rd through Sunday, October 26th. The yearly event benefits Enterprise for High School Students (www.EHSS.org), a program that focuses on preparing high school students for success in future employment and higher education. >>

The "Butte Nugget"? Really??

Shades of Bart Simpson dialing Mo's..

But anyway, also interesting for the backstory regarding that other nugget previously auctioned by HKA.

ms70 · October 22, 2014 8:04AM

It's pronouced like "beaut" as in beauty.

blu62vette · October 22, 2014 8:06AM

<< It's pronouced like "beaut" as in beauty. >>

As in the Sutter Buttes… but the name does look funny there.

WillieBoyd2 · October 22, 2014 8:06AM

Here we go again, folks.

illini420 · October 22, 2014 8:08AM

hehe hehhe hee hee, you said Butte Nugget...

kiyote · October 22, 2014 8:19AM

I saw a video of it under a metal detector... it returned the signal of "Trash" it was so huge. I wonder how many people LOOKING for gold with detectors walked right over it and ignored the signal.

EagleEye · October 22, 2014 8:26AM

Link to video

lasvegasteddy · October 22, 2014 8:40AM

" I was able to use his pictures to positively identify the location where the gold was discovered"
sounds like every goldbug's nightmare...someone knowing where the honey pot is

crap i was hiking in mother lode part of cali around "coarsegold cal" and was met by 2 guys holding double barreled shotguns informing me
"my hike on this trail goes no farther"...of course i listened...could even hear the motors of their dredge in the distance

i seem to recall a vacationing retirees finding an 89 pound nugget with a metal dector in the aussie outback....YEE-HAWW...

strange though...provenance plays value roll on total weight mooses

ranshdow · October 22, 2014 8:50AM

Here we go again, folks.

Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice... won't be fooled again?

coindeuce · October 22, 2014 8:55AM

lasvegasteddy · October 22, 2014 9:02AM

<< Here we go again, folks.

Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice... won't be fooled again?

>>

lol....i liked this way it was quoted...
“There's an old saying in Tennessee — I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee — that says, fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again.”
― George W. Bush

crazyhounddog · October 22, 2014 9:05AM

This nugget was found not far from where I live.

lasvegasteddy · October 22, 2014 9:08AM

<< This nugget was found not far from where I live. >>

be safe then if ever hiking in local outback there ya ol crazyhounddog...
double barrels ain't no fun to be staring at from the wrong end...

EagleEye · October 22, 2014 9:13AM

Fixed..

ms70 · October 22, 2014 10:56AM

<< This nugget was found not far from where I live. >>

Well get your Butte butt out into the Butte foothills with a metal detector and get your Butte butt in gear!

coinsarefun · October 22, 2014 11:15AM

<<

hehe hehhe hee hee, you said Butte Nugget... >>

lmao x's 10

COALPORTER · October 22, 2014 12:47PM

<< 

<< It's pronouced like "beaut" as in beauty. >>

As in the Sutter Buttes… but the name does look funny there. >>

Do you really think guys from back east know about the Sutter Buttes ? Geeeshh

fcloud · October 22, 2014 12:53PM

It looks like a beaut!

WTCG · October 24, 2014 12:30PM

One thing I've learned over the years after interacting with people from the East Coast and Midwest is they all seem to have difficulty correctly pronouncing West Coast place names. I can see how a name like "San Luis Obispo" can be mispronounced but how "Yosemite" can be misprounced is beyond me. I've heard about 12 different incorrect ways to pronounce "Yosemite".

bolivarshagnasty · October 24, 2014 12:49PM

<< One thing I've learned over the years after interacting with people from the East Coast and Midwest is they all seem to have difficulty correctly pronouncing West Coast place names. I can see how a name like "San Luis Obispo" can be mispronounced but how "Yosemite" can be misprounced is beyond me. I've heard about 12 different incorrect ways to pronounce "Yosemite". >>

Have you noticed that you rag on everyone? Old people, coin people, Midwest and Eastcoast people? Focus on positive comments please!

ms70 · October 24, 2014 1:39PM

So you really want to make this an East Coast / West Coast thing? Bring it on! I see YOU tonight.

ms70 · October 24, 2014 1:40PM

I forgot to ask.. What coast are you on?

Zoins · October 24, 2014 1:41PM

Wonder how high this will go and if any other pieces can be found on the same property?

Lakesammman · October 24, 2014 10:23PM

Cool story. Quite the nugget.

Speaking of mispronunciations, I'll never forget my Mom seeing a sign pointing to Ninepipes and saying:

"Don't you just love these western names"? Then saying "knee-knee-pee-pees".

Lakesammman · October 24, 2014 10:24PM

PS - Move it to the giant nugget forum......

SullivanNumismatics · October 25, 2014 2:08AM

<< Link to video >>

Interesting video, thanks for posting Rick.

ricko · October 25, 2014 3:19AM

Very cool nugget..... what a thrill to find something like that....Cheers, RickO

WillieBoyd2 · October 25, 2014 1:28PM

One of the largest gold nuggets in modern times pulled from Northern California's
Gold Country has sold to a secret buyer.

The new owner of the so-called Butte Nugget and its exact price will both remain mysteries
at the buyer's request, the San Francisco Chronicle reported Saturday.

FullStrike · October 26, 2014 5:10PM

The nugget buyer is smarter than the $100K Kennedy buyer.

Or is it the same person?

Boosibri · October 26, 2014 5:19PM

I saw in a news story that the price was over $400k.

CoinZip · October 26, 2014 9:20PM

How the heck is PCGS gonna get that thing in a holder........

The Butte Nugget

Comments

Leave a Comment