Omanghana
The Boot of Cortez, recognized as the largest surviving natural gold nugget in the Western Hemisphere, is set to headline a major auction on June 12, 2026, in the Phoenix metropolitan area.
The historic specimen will be auctioned by EJ’s Auction & Appraisal and is expected to fetch between $3 million and $7 million, reflecting soaring global gold prices and the nugget’s extraordinary rarity.
Weighing 26.2 pounds, or 383.10 troy ounces, the massive nugget is composed of approximately 98% pure gold blended naturally with quartz. The artifact measures 10.75 inches in height and 7.25 inches in width, making it one of the most visually striking natural gold formations ever discovered.
The nugget earned its famous name from its resemblance to the boot of a Spanish conquistador. Auction officials describe the piece as completely pristine and unaltered, noting that it has never been melted, cut, polished, or structurally modified since its discovery.
The legendary specimen was uncovered in 1989 near Caborca in the Sonoran Desert, approximately 70 miles south of the Arizona border. According to historical accounts, an amateur prospector discovered the nugget using a low-cost Radio Shack metal detector.
In one of the most remarkable stories in modern gold prospecting history, the finder reportedly traded the nugget to his employer for only $30,000 before the true significance of the discovery became widely understood.
Over the years, the Boot of Cortez passed through several elite private collections and was publicly exhibited at institutions including the American Museum of Natural History.
The upcoming sale marks the first time the nugget has been offered publicly in nearly two decades. Its last public auction appearance occurred in January 2008, when it sold for approximately $1.3 million.
Auction experts say the dramatic increase in gold prices since then has significantly boosted the nugget’s estimated market value, positioning it as one of the most valuable natural gold specimens ever offered at auction.
A free public preview of the artifact is scheduled for May 20, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at EJ’s Auction & Appraisal gallery in Glendale. Due to security considerations surrounding the multi-million-dollar specimen, visitor access will be limited each hour.
The live and online auction is scheduled to begin on Friday, June 12, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. MST.
Auction organizers confirmed that bidding will open at $1 million, with all prospective buyers required to complete registration and undergo a background vetting process before the June 9 deadline.
Source: Omanghana
