Online auction site Bid4Assets is hosting an auction for the lock that was picked in the infamous Watergate case. "We are thrilled to provide buyers from around the country an opportunity to bid on the original Watergate lock," said Bid4Assets spokesperson Jenny Lynch. "With the recent unveiling of Deep Throat's identity, those still wallowing in the Watergate scandal now have a shot at owning a piece of it. It's not too often an item this unique and valuable turns up at an auction."

On June 17, 1972, the Watergate lock, a polished brass lock on the rear door of Suite 600, of the Watergate Hotel, 2600 Virginia Avenue N.W., Washington, D.C., which housed the Democratic National Committee, was picked open by operatives working for the Nixon re-election committee. They entered the suite to look for Democratic campaign information and to fix telephone taps they had placed weeks earlier. The day after the break-in, the "picked" lock was replaced by Locksmith James Rednowers, employed by the American Safe and Lock Company, who subsequently put the lock in the back of his truck where it remained for several months. Eventually, Rednowers gave the lock, along with certification of its authenticity, to Jim Herrald, a building superintendent of the Watergate where the break-in happened. The lock has since then changed owners, but now it is up for auction in hopes of finding a new resting place.

The entire lock assembly, including keys, comes with certifications and affidavits verifying its authenticity, signatures and dates. The minimum bid for the Watergate lock is $100,000. The seller has requested to remain anonymous. There is a reserve price on the auction. This amount, set by the seller, is not disclosed on the Web site, but bidders are notified once the reserve price has been met. Lock images, certifications and other due diligence information are available online.

Bid4Assets is a leading online auction marketplace that helps federal, state and local government and private industry maximize returns from the sale of forfeited, surplus and tax-defaulted property. The Company focuses on high-end assets, selling real estate, personal property, financial instruments and bankruptcy claims to a worldwide network of buyers.

http://www.bid4assets.com/WatergateLock