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Wednesday, 31st January 2007 (2260 views)

Gold nuggets and raptor eggs were the main interest in a recent natural history auction held in the US.

Collectors paid significant amounts for some of the unique items being offered for sale via Bonhams & Butterfields auction house as record-numbers visited the sale room, reports Antiques and the Arts Online.

Gemologist Claudia Florian explained there was only standing room left because of the famous pieces being auctioned at the event, one of which was a famous group of gold nuggets from the Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

The nuggets feature "rare 1880s azurite and malachite specimens from Bisbee and Morenci, Arizona", said Ms Florian.

The 32-piece Golden Nugget Collection eventually sold for a total of $227,250 (£116,500), while an unnamed collector paid $117,250 (£60,100) for an 84-ounce gold nugget from Western Australia

One of the most interesting gold nuggets in the collection is the Worry Stone, an elongated nugget once owned by American restaurateur Jimmy Lee. Mr Lee reportedly carried the nugget in his pocket with his loose change for more than 20 years, wearing it down from 8.27 ounces to around six ounces.

In addition, a 65-million year old dinosaur egg nest sold for $419,750 – the largest amount ever paid for such an item.

 

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