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Wednesday, 1st April 2009 (4746 views)

A sword made from solid gold is expected to fetch up to NZD 50,000 (£19,500) when it goes up for auction in the New Zealand city of Auckland.

The item, which is approximately one metre long, was given to the late prime minister of the country David Lange by the Emir of Bahrain, 3 News reports.

It was then sold on by his wife Margaret, but the item was mistaken for gold plating before it went under the hammer for the first time, auctioneer Christopher Devereaux told the news source.

"She took it to a valuer in Wellington who pronounced it to be gold plate. And then, on the basis of that, it was then sold by auction," he explained.

The wife of the buyer now put the sword up for auction again, with the sword expected to sell for between NZD 40,000 and NZD 50,000.

Another auction involving the precious metal is also set to take place in the UK, with a number of gold sovereigns discovered in 1974 expected to sell for around £6,000.

 

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