Auction of Gold Nugget in Doubt

The June 2 auction in New York of a 56-pound gold nugget found in Australia is in doubt because the metal may have been taken out of the country illegally. The anonymous owner of the nugget did not apply for an export license to send it to New York, where it is scheduled to be auctioned by Sotheby’s, said an Australian government spokeswoman. Sotheby’s said the planned reserve price for the nugget was between $250,000 and $300,000.