With the price of gold in the stratosphere, it's interesting to know that dedicated gold hunters can still find the yellow metal. Here are some pictures of dazzling finds from recent years, which show that even the average joe can score if he is patient, willing to get dirty, and has the time to dig a bunch of worthless nails, shot and other scrap before the gleam of real money shines through a the bottom of the hole.

This is an obvious hunk of placer gold that is of impressive size. I actually knew someone who found something similar by chance. The person who found this one said it came from Northern California.

This is interesting as it shows the gold as it is found in the native quartz. What a beautiful specimen this is, and according to my sources, this piece came out of Arizona.