Amateur Treasure Hunter With Entry-Level Metal Detector Finds Largest Gold Nugget in Western Hemisphere
In 1989, one man in Mexico went through the fairytale of rags to riches, when he got his hands on 'The Boot of Cortez.' The explorer ventured out to the Sonoran Desert with nothing but an entry-level metal detector from Radio Shack, Scottsdale Mint reported. All he had was some hope in his heart, that his search in this barren desert would fill his life with prosperity. His optimism paid dividends when he located "the most unusual and attractive large nugget in the World."
The treasure hunter spent days in the desert to get his hands on the nugget, Scottsdale Mint reported. The average temperature of the place often soared above 125°F (52°C), which proved to be a huge challenge for explorers. Despite the extreme conditions, many came to the Sonoran Desert to try their luck, because of the legend that it contained hidden valuables. This man also chased the tale and wanted to try his luck.
Initially, his metal detector was picking up nothing but iron scraps, even then he persisted, Scottsdale Mint reported. One day, he heard a different sound than usual from his detector and began digging the particular area, where the unique beep originated.
At first, he saw just a bit of the gold nugget through all the sand, but as he went deeper the nugget kept growing in size. In the end, he had a 10¾-inch high, 7¼-inch wide piece of solid gold. The boot shape of the nugget and the desert's location being 60 miles east of the Sea of Cortez inspired the find's name, 'The Boot of Cortez.'
The man reportedly sold the nugget to his boss for $30,000, Greek Reporter reported. Since then, the nugget has been purchased and sold multiple times by different parties. In 2008, the nugget was auctioned for $1,553,500.
The gold nugget was quickly identified as the largest natural gold nugget found in the Western Hemisphere, Scottsdale Mint reported. Even its closest rival in Alaska weighed 100 ounces less. 'The Boot of Cortez' stands apart from other discovered nuggets of similar nature, because there is no intermixing of the gold with other materials. Immediately after its discovery, news about the find spread like wildfire.
People wanted to see this unique specimen with their own eyes and hence it was a part of many exhibitions, Scottsdale Mint reported. In 2004, the nugget was the central exhibit of the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show, after which it appeared in a traveling "Gold" exhibition assembled by the Houston Museum of Natural Science. From 2006 to 2007, the nugget was placed on display at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.