A Goodwill store in Du Bois, Pennsylvania, recently stumbled upon a rare 14-karat gold Lego piece, which sold at auction for a staggering $18,000. This unique find, part of Lego’s Bionicle line known as the Kanohi Hau mask, measures just 1 inch tall but carries immense value due to its rarity and the precious metal from which it’s crafted.
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The golden Lego item was originally part of a special giveaway in 2001 and found its way to the Goodwill store after being transferred from another location in State College. Initially underestimated in value, the piece was placed on the Goodwill website for a mere $14.95. However, interest quickly escalated, with potential buyers willing to offer up to $1,000, prompting the store to take the item to auction.
After a competitive bidding process involving 48 bids, an anonymous buyer secured the gold Lego mask for $18,101, narrowly outbidding the second-highest offer by just one dollar. This sale set a record for the highest price fetched by any item at the Du Bois Goodwill store and became the highest-selling Lego piece in the store’s history.Chad Smith, the Vice President of E-Commerce and Technology for Goodwill in North Central Pennsylvania, shared his excitement with PEOPLE, noting the intense auction that saw bids rise as high as $33,000 before settling at the final sale price. The piece’s significance is further underscored by its comparison to another high-value Lego collectible, a 14-karat solid gold 2×4 brick that previously sold for $15,000.
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Weighing in at 9 ounces, the gold Kanohi Hau mask’s sale price aligns closely with the current market value of gold, offering the buyer a piece of Lego history at a price reflective of its material worth. Jessica Illuzzi, Social Media and PR Coordinator for Goodwill Industries of North Central Pennsylvania emphasized that the proceeds from the sale would directly support the organization’s mission, highlighting the positive impact of such finds beyond their monetary value.
This rare Lego piece was one of 30 special items released over two decades ago, including silver and platinum versions, with only a handful made available outside the company. The discovery and subsequent sale of the gold mask underscore the unique and often unexpected treasures that can surface in places like Goodwill, bringing joy and excitement to collectors and contributing to charitable causes.