World's Largest Gold Nugget 'Boot of Cortez' Returns to Auction After 18 Years
On June 12, 2025, EJ's Auction & Appraisal in Glendale, Arizona, will feature the legendary 'Boot of Cortez' nugget in an upcoming sale. Weighing in at 383.10 troy ounces, equivalent to over 26 pounds, this remarkable gold nugget boasts a purity of 98%. Unearthed in 1989 by a treasure hunter in the Sonoran Desert near Caborca, Mexico, it fetched $1.3 million at a previous auction in 2008. The starting bid for the upcoming auction is set at $1 million, with projections indicating it could sell for anywhere between $3 million and $7 million. Private viewings are available for potential buyers.
Key facts
- The 'Boot of Cortez' is the largest surviving natural gold nugget in the Western Hemisphere.
- It weighs 383.10 troy ounces (over 26 pounds) and is 98% pure gold.
- Discovered in 1989 by an amateur treasure hunter near Caborca, Mexico.
- Last auctioned in 2008 for $1.3 million.
- Opening bid is $1 million; estimated value $3–$7 million.
- Auction date: June 12, 2025 at 1 p.m. local Arizona time.
- Exhibited at Houston Museum of Natural Science and American Museum of Natural History.
- Bidding registration closes June 9, 2025.
Entities
Institutions
- EJ's Auction & Appraisal
- Houston Museum of Natural Science
- American Museum of Natural History
- Radio Shack
Locations
- Glendale
- Arizona
- Caborca
- Mexico
- Sonoran Desert
- Gran Desierto de Altar
- Alaska
- New York City