Auction of recluse’s gold nets $3.5m
New chapter reached
CARSON CITY, Nevada, Feb 27, (AP): The tale of a mysterious Nevada recluse’s gold reached a new chapter Tuesday when a portion of the trove raked in more than $3.5 million at auction.
It was the allure of mystery that pulled some bidders to the courtroom, but for others, it was the sheer value of a collection unknown to the public before
was found dead in his modest ranch-style home last year.
Regardless of motivation, those who converged on the auction could sense the immense value of the treasure upon arriving.
There were numerous guards at the entrance, then more in the hallway outside the courtroom, and finally several with bullet proof vests and others with helmets inside the room holding the gold.
Five bidders diligently inspected the 11 lots of gold displayed in plastic sleeves, tubes and felt jewelry display boxes in the heavily guarded room before the bidding wars began.
By the time all sales were final, however, one bidder had secured nine of the 11 lots for sale.
Carson City’s Alan Rowe of Northern Nevada Coin spent $617,000 from his own company, and another $2 million on behalf of the Illinois-based Rare Coin Company of America Inc. It was the uniqueness of the gold that drove his bidding, he said.