One of the most legendary discoveries ever made with a metal detector continues to hold the record as the largest gold nugget ever found using this method, captivating treasure hunters and history enthusiasts worldwide.
In September 1980, hobbyist prospector Kevin Hillier was scanning the ancient goldfields near Kingower, Victoria, Australia, with a metal detector when he struck what would become an iconic find. Buried just about 30 cm (1 ft) below the surface, Hillier uncovered an enormous gold nugget weighing 27.21 kg (875 troy ounces) later named the “Hand of Faith.”
This massive nugget is recognised as the largest gold nugget ever recovered using a metal detector, significantly out-weighing typical detector finds and dwarfing most natural gold discoveries made by other means. At the time of its public unveiling in Melbourne, the discovery drew widespread media attention and remains one of the most famous metal detecting successes in history.
After its discovery, the “Hand of Faith” was sold to the Golden Nugget Casino in Las Vegas, where it became a featured attraction a testament to the extraordinary potential of metal detecting as both a hobby and a tool for unearthing treasures.
The find continues to inspire a new generation of detectorists drawn to fields and goldfields around the world, each hoping to make their own remarkable discovery.
