Las Vegas Casino Treasure
Hand of Faith: The Massive Gold Nugget Hiding in a Vegas Hallway
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
By the Wicked Cool Places editors · Published · Updated
Why it’s cool
This 875-troy-ounce specimen is the world's second-biggest whole gold nugget. It was found just inches below the Australian soil by a hobbyist with a metal detector before finding a permanent home in Nevada.
Walking through a Las Vegas casino usually involves navigating a maze of slot machines and neon lights designed to keep you disoriented. Yet, tucked away from the clatter of the gaming floor is a genuine geological marvel that rivals the city's flashiest spectacles.
The Hand of Faith is a massive, shimmering chunk of gold that seems almost too large to be real. It sits quietly in a glass case, a testament to incredible luck and the enduring allure of the Earth's riches.
Why It Stands Out
While many assume a treasure of this magnitude would come from a professional mining operation, its origin story is much more humble. In 1980, an Australian man named Kevin Hillier took his new metal detector out for a test run in the town of Wedderburn.
He was not a corporate prospector, just a hobbyist looking for small finds. Instead, he struck a massive 61-pound deposit just six inches beneath the ground.
This discovery remains the biggest gold specimen ever located with a handheld detector. The specimen weighs approximately 875 troy ounces.
After its discovery, the Golden Nugget casino purchased the piece for more than a million dollars, bringing it across the ocean to its namesake resort. It currently holds the title of the second-largest intact gold nugget in the world.
Unlike many historical finds that were melted down for currency, this one remains whole. This allows visitors to see the raw, organic shape of the metal as it was formed in the earth.
Its value fluctuates with the global market, but its status as a record-breaking find is permanent.
Before You Go
Finding the display requires a bit of persistence. You will need to leave the main gambling area and head toward the hotel lobby.
The nugget is housed in a secure wall display along a quiet corridor. It is free to view and provides a peaceful, awe-inspiring break from the high-energy atmosphere of the Fremont Street area.
The historic Atomic Liquors is another notable destination in the same neighborhood.
Questions worth answering
What makes this specific piece of gold so significant?
It weighs about 875 troy ounces. That makes it the world's second-largest gold nugget that hasn't been broken apart or melted down.
Where did this massive find actually come from?
A man named Kevin Hillier found it in Wedderburn, Australia. He was just a hobbyist using a metal detector when he hit the deposit six inches down.
Is there a fee to see the display?
You don't have to pay anything to look at it. It's a quiet alternative to the noise of Fremont Street.
How do we find the nugget once we're inside the building?
Walk past the slot machines and gambling tables toward the hotel lobby. It's kept in a secure case along a hallway in that back area.
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