We're happy to solve this conundrum for you, which we did via a call to the property's very helpful PR representative. And we were surprised to find that your memory serves you well and it's not the actual Hand of Faith on display here. Gasp!
Here's the story: The Hand of Faith is the second-largest gold nugget ever to be found using a metal detector. It was discovered in 1980 by an Australian named Kevin Hillier who was prospecting behind his family's trailer home in Victoria. The Golden Nugget casino bought the 875-troy-ounce monster shortly afterwards for $1 million Australian ($870,000 US at the time), then reportedly immediately insured it for $5 million, closer to its actual value at the time, before flying it over to Las Vegas on a Lear Jet.
And there the Hand of Faith has remained in full view, together with some other impressive gold nuggets, until April of this year, when it moved to Atlantic City. The occasion was the grand opening of the new Golden Nugget hotel-casino, which took over the former Trump Marina, and so far there's no plan to bring it back. So, if you find yourself in that hotel, you can view the original Hand of Faith in the retail quarter, next to Choc Box. Visitors to the Golden Nugget in downtown Las Vegas will, until further notice, have to make do with a replica.
