Images via ShopGoodwill
A Goodwill warehouse in western Pennsylvania recently struck gold, quite literally, when a seemingly ordinary donation box turned up filled with jewelry and a rarely-seen 14-karat gold LEGO piece.
This tiny treasure, known as the Bionicle Golden Kanohi Hau Mask and standing just about an inch tall, is extremely rare, with only about 30 in existence.
Introduced in 2001 as part of the Bionicle series, these action figures were a departure from the toymaker’s traditional building blocks, offering a more complex and narrative-driven experience through the use of Technic elements. The golden masks, in particular, were special editions—some were gifts to LEGO employees, while others were prizes in contests, making each one a collector’s dream.
Image via ShopGoodwill
To think that the discovery at the Goodwill warehouse was almost overlooked. The pure gold mask was buried among a variety of donated items, but once its true value was understood, the nonprofit didn’t waste any time. It listed the collectible for auction on ShopGoodwill, where it quickly caught the attention of LEGO enthusiasts worldwide.
The auction took an exciting turn when bids for the mask skyrocketed to US$33,000, only for the deal to fall through when the highest bidder couldn’t complete the purchase.
Relisted, the mask’s price has climbed to US$11,000 as of the time of writing. Proceeds made from this sale will go towards the network’s mission to help others.
Images via ShopGoodwill
[via CBS News and Brick Fanatics, images via ShopGoodwill]