Alaska Centennial Nugget sells for $750,000

The ‘Alaska Centennial Nugget’, a massive 9.14 kilogram (294.1 troy ounce) gold nugget, has sold for $750,000 at a Heritage Auctions ‘Nature and Science’ sale. The piece is recognized as the largest gold nugget discovered in the state of Alaska.

Originally unearthed in 1998 by miner Barry Clay during bulldozer excavations in the Swift Creek area near Ruby, the nugget remained out of the public eye for over two decades. Its name commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Klondike Gold Rush.

Technical analysis using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) determined the gold has a purity of approximately 87.59 percent. Experts noted that while the exact internal gold content is unknown due to its size, the sale price reflects its extreme rarity and collector value rather than just its raw weight. According to auction officials, there are fewer than 50 known gold nuggets in the world weighing over 250 ounces.