The Alaska Centennial Gold Nugget, the largest example ever discovered in Alaska, sold for $750,000 to lead Heritage Auctions Nature and Science Auction to $2,356,714 in total sales on Dec. 8. The beauty and scale of the nugget is hard to quantify. Considering the fact that the majority of the worlds mined gold is refined and that even a one-ounce nugget is exceptionally rare, the Centennial Nugget weighs more than 20 pounds, over 322 ounces. It is difficult to come up with the superlatives to fully explain the significance of this nugget, said Heritage Auctions Nature and Science director Craig Kissick. The winning bidder got a prize that can be the centerpiece of any collection, the focus in any room. It is not only the largest ever found in the 49th state, but also one of the largest ever discovered in the Western Hemisphere. The Centennial Nugget is absolutely spectacular. The Centennial Nugget brought the highest winning bid but was far from the only highlight. A brilliant native gold crystal from Venezuela brought a winning bid of $447,000. Discovered in the jungle of Gran Sabana, where gold can be found in the sediments of river bottoms between the mesas, this 217.78-gram (7.00-troy ounce) nugget is believed to be the largest morphologically fine non-wire single gold crystal in the world. Another Alaskan gold nugget, from the Ruby Mining District, finished at $68,750. Featuring all of the characteristics often found in examples from the 49th state, this specimen is as grand in size (727 grams / 24.5 troy ounces) as it is in appearance. Crystallized silver with copper, from the Wolverine Mine in Michigan that closed in 1925, drew nearly three dozen bids before closing at $40,000. This specimen is huge; it measures nearly 6 inches in length and weighs 653 grams and features sharply defined crystals and great color. This magnificent specimen, with solidly crystallized silver except for a small association of crude copper off one end, was from the collection of German dealer and collector Dr. Hans Jrgen Wilke. Two gold nuggets reached $31,250. One, from the Ganes Creek Mine, weighs 260 grams and is highly aesthetic for an Alaskan nugget, boasting the typical brassy-golden coloration diagnostic of gold from the state. The other, from the famed Bendigo Fields in Australia, is even larger, weighing in at 350 grams. Its overall beauty is a combination of its impressive size, complemented by high luster and bright golden-yellow hue. For complete results, visit www.HA.com/8068.