How much is the gold on the West Virginia capitol dome worth?

CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) — At 292 feet tall and 75 feet in diameter , the golden dome of the West Virginia State Capitol Building is a unique staple among capitol buildings. But, how much is the gold used on the dome worth?

Initially gilded by Mack Jenney and Tyler Company in 1931 as part of the capitol building’s original design, the dome is partially covered with 23.5-karat gold leaf in tiny 3⅜ inch squares . The original leafing eventually peeled off and was replaced with gold and blue paint , but in the 1980s, workers gilded it again, this time completely. The leafing has been restored every few decades ever since.

The exact amount of gold leafing used is not known, but in 2005, the restoration project, which saw the dome go back to being partially gilded as part of its original design, accounted for $280,000 in “gold leaf materials,” according to West Virginia Department of Administration Communication Director Samantha Knapp.

Meanwhile, the total cost of “gilding line items” for the 2018-2022 Capitol Dome Moisture Intrusion project, which included the repairing and replacement of the gilding in some areas, was around $101,896 and included the use of gold leaf from Giusto Manetti Battiloro in Florence, Italy.

The initial 1931 gilding reportedly cost $23,700 at the time, the equivalent of around $489,864 today .

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