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Storage auction yields pirate treasure

Published: Nov. 13, 2011 at 6:18 PM

CONTRA COSTA, Calif., Nov. 13 (UPI) -- The auctioneers featured on the television reality show "Storage Wars" say they sold a California unit containing a pirate's chest and actual gold doubloons.

When Dan and Laura Dotson auction off abandoned storage lockers they do not know what's inside -- nobody does, so when one lucky bidder for a Contra Costa, Calif., unit came in on top at $1,000, it was a surprise to everyone when they opened it up and found a 200-year-old chest containing gold doubloons worth about $500,000.

The winner was not named.

The booty was described by an expert as being Spanish gold dating from between the 16th and 19th centuries.

The chest was so heavy it took three people to move it from the locker, TMZ.com reported Saturday.

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