Photo credit – Jeff Noble / jeffnoblepictures.com
At 26.2 pounds, the “Boot of Cortez” is the largest surviving natural gold nugget found in the Western Hemisphere
GLENDALE, Ariz. (June 12, 2026) – The mystery of who will be the next owner of the historic, rare “Boot of Cortez” gold nugget continues. While bidding reached $1.5 million on June 12 at EJ’s Auction & Appraisal in Glendale, Arizona, the bids did not meet the undisclosed reserve. EJ’s Auction & Appraisal will now entertain offers for a private sale.
Erik Hoyer, CEO and owner of EJ’s Auction & Appraisal, said the decision to move the famous gold nugget to a private sale was a necessary one.
“We have a fiduciary responsibility to protect our consignors,” Hoyer said. “Prior to the auction, we consulted with the consignor and agreed that we would not allow this trophy piece to be subject to melt or be treated like a base metal. It is the reason why we set an undisclosed reserve. The Boot of Cortez is a museum-quality piece and deserves to remain intact for generations to come.”
At 26.2 pounds, the “Boot of Cortez” is classified as the largest surviving natural gold nugget found in the Western Hemisphere.
In January 2008, the piece achieved over $1.3 million at auction, which was four times the gold spot value at that time. It has remained in a distinguished private collection and has not changed ownership since the buyer purchased it at auction 18 years ago.
Some of the unique features include:
- A gold nugget in the shape of a conquistador’s boot
- 383.10 troy ounces, or 26.2 pounds (11.9 kilograms)
- 10 ¾ inches (27.3 cm) in height and 7 ¼ inches (18.4 cm) in width
- 98% pure gold
- Pristine condition, maintained its original form
A prospector discovered “The Boot of Cortez” using a metal detector from Radio Shack while searching for gold in 1989 near Caborca, Mexico, about 70 miles south of the Arizona border and about 60 miles east of the Sea of Cortez in the Mexican state of Sonora.
The “Boot of Cortez” quickly became one of the most celebrated mineral finds of the modern era. It has been exhibited at leading institutions and events, including the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show, the Houston Museum of Natural Science, and the American Museum of Natural History in New York.
“It has been a tremendous honor for our EJ’s team to represent the Boot of Cortez at auction. We’ve had many special items come through our auction house, but nothing quite like this remarkable gold nugget,” Hoyer said.
For details about how to purchase the Boot of Cortez gold nugget in a private sale, please contact concierge@ejsauction.com or visit bootofcortez.com. To learn more about EJ’s Auction & Appraisal, visit ejsauction.com.
