A stolen piece of California history, a solid gold nugget from the Gold Rush era valued at more than $80,000, was reported taken at the Long Beach Expo's Collectibles Show. According to CBS News Los Angeles, the theft occurred last Thursday around 11:45 am. "It's worth way more than the gold you can melt down," said Bob Campbell, owner of All About Coins Inc. The nugget, weighing in at nearly 27 ounces and the size of a goose egg, is one of few that remain un-melted since the heydays of 1849.
The rarity of such an artifact extends beyond its weight in gold, with Campbell emphasizing to KABC that, "The person probably doesn't fully understand what he has." Surveillance captured a man in a black and gold shirt at the scene, who appeared to manipulate the display case to extract the nugget. "He was able to get a finger underneath the lip of the case," Campbell remarked, "Which then, he actually flexed the case open where he could get his hand in there."
The Long Beach Police Department is investigating the incident but has yet to publicly identify the man in the video as a person of interest. Meanwhile, Campbell has put up a $10,000 reward in the case of a return or an arrest that leads to the retrieval of the stolen item, despite not being covered by insurance. "Everybody says, 'Oh, he's covered under insurance.' I don't have insurance — I eat it," he told CBS News Los Angeles, stressing his hope for justice and the nugget's recovery.
As reported by Los Angeles Times, Campbell is distributing flyers featuring the nugget and the suspect, urging anyone with information to come forward. He offered a clear incentive: "Return the nugget, turn him in, get $10,000 - 10,000 reasons to do it." Concerns grow that the thief may attempt to melt down the nugget for a quick sale, erasing an irreplaceable artefact of Californian heritage in the process.
Individuals with information regarding the gold nugget theft or the suspect can reach the Long Beach Police Department, referencing case number 24-28245, or directly call Campbell's Utah shop at (801) 467-8636, as encouraged by the shop owner. A moment of loss has galvanized a community of history preservers and collectors, with their eyes collectively peeled for a nugget-sized glimpse into California's storied past.
