Two giant Gold Rush-era gold nuggets mined in Alaska realize a combined $172,725 at Holabird auction

RENO, Nev. - Oct. 15, 2019 - PRLog -- Two giant-size gold nuggets mined in Alaska during the days of the Gold Rush – one a 38.39-ounce nugget roughly in the shape of Australia, the other a 33.83-ounce nugget in the shape of a skull – sold for a combined $172,725 at an auction held October 4^th thru 7^th by Holabird Western Americana Collections, online and in the Reno gallery at 3555 Airway Drive.

The gold nuggets were the top lots in a four-day Americana auction bursting with more than 3,l00 lots in a wide array of collecting categories – to include petroliana, aviation, World War II, railroadiana, Native Americana, stock certificates, mining, minerals, coins and gold. A special section was devoted to dealers, with great bargains lotted specifically with re-sellers in mind.

The 38.39-ounce gold nugget that resembled the shape of Australia was mined at Ganes Creek, Alaska, about 150 miles east-southeast from Unalakleet, on the Norton Sound, which is 150 miles southeast of Nome. Ganes Creek is known for its large nuggets and there are several "Pay" nugget finding operations still there today. The nugget, large by any standard, sold for $99,175.

The other nugget, 33.83 ounces and shaped nearly identical to the skull used in pirate logos, was found in Alaska's Chandler District, along the Squaw Creek drainage. It's still active today; placer gold has been produced there since around 1900. The nugget, measuring 2 inches by 3 ¼ inches, hammered for $77,550, a figure helped along by its crowd-pleasing pirate skull shape.


Day 1, October 4th, contained 772 lots of textiles, Native Americana, art, music, maps, foreign collectibles, sports, military and aviation, railroadiana, postal history, Wells Fargo and more. Day 2, October 5th, was packed with 736 lots of marbles, bottles, saloon items, cigar and tobacco, cowboy collectibles, firearms, weaponry, tokens, numismatics, toys, World's Fair and Expos, political memorabilia, and general and foreign Americana.

Day 3, Sunday, October 6th, featured over 800 lots of gold, jewelry, minerals, mining (foreign, general and geographically sorted), fossils, collectible spoons, Gold Rush memorabilia and more. Day 4, Monday, October 7th, contained 818 lots of calendars, cameras, fire items, directories, and transportation (planes, trains, automobiles).

To learn more about Holabird Western Americana Collections, LLC, based in Reno, Nevada, visit holabirdamericana.com. Updates are posted frequently.