Contract

Exhibit 10.2

NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR THE SECURITIES FOR WHICH THIS SECURITY IS EXCHANGEABLE HAVE BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR THE SECURITIES COMMISSION OF ANY STATE IN RELIANCE UPON AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS AS EVIDENCED BY A LEGAL OPINION OF COUNSEL TO THE TRANSFEROR TO SUCH EFFECT, THE SUBSTANCE OF WHICH SHALL BE REASONABLY ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY. THIS SECURITY AND THE SECURITIES ISSUABLE UPON CONVERSION OF THIS SECURITY MAY BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT OR OTHER LOAN SECURED BY SUCH SECURITIES.

5% SECURED PROMISSORY NOTE

$500,000 April 10, 2012

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, Pershing Gold Corporation, a Nevada corporation (the “Maker”), with its primary offices located at 0000 Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 0, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxxxx Xx 00000, promises to pay to the order of Xxxxxx Xxxx (the “Payee”) or his or its registered assigns (with the Payee, the “Holder”), upon the terms set forth below, the principal sum of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000) plus interest on the unpaid principal sum outstanding at the rate of 5% per annum (this “Note”).  Defined terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in that certain note purchase agreement of even date herewith among the Maker, the Holder (the “Purchase Agreement”).

1. Payments.

(a) Unless an Event of Default shall have previously occurred and be continuing, the full amount of principal and accrued interest under this Note shall be due and payable on a date (the “Maturity Date”) that shall be the earlier to occur of: (x) the sale of Noble Effort Gold LLC and Arttor Gold LLC, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiaries (the “Gold Subsidiaries”) (or the sale of all or substantially all of the assets collectively contained in the Gold Subsidiaries) to a third party purchaser or (y) October 10, 2012.

(b) The Maker shall pay interest to the Holder on the aggregate and then outstanding principal amount of this Note at the rate of 5% per annum, payable in arrears on the earlier of (i) the Maturity Date or (ii) acceleration of this Note following an Event of Default pursuant to Section 3(b). Interest on this Note shall commence to accrue as of the date of acceptance by the Company of the Purchase Agreement as executed and delivered by the Payee and payment of the purchase price for this Note (the “Original Issue Date”).

(c) Interest shall be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year, consisting of twelve 30 calendar day periods, and shall accrue monthly commencing on the Original Issue Date until payment in full of the outstanding principal, together with all accrued and unpaid interest, and other amounts which may become due hereunder, has been made. Interest hereunder will be paid to the Person in whose name this Note is registered on the records of the Maker regarding registration and transfers of this Note.

(d) All overdue accrued and unpaid principal and interest to be paid hereunder shall entail a default rate of interest at the rate of 16% per annum (or such lower maximum amount of interest permitted to be charged under applicable law) which will accrue daily, from the date such principal and/or interest is due hereunder through and including the date of payment. Except as otherwise set forth in this Note, the Maker may prepay any portion of the principal amount of this Note upon written notice to the Holder.

2. Secured Obligation. The obligations of the Maker under this Note are secured by the assets of the Gold Subsidiaries, pursuant to a Security Agreement dated as of the date hereof, by and among the Maker, the Gold Subsidiaries and the Holder.

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3. Events of Default.

(a) “Event of Default”, wherever used herein, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court, or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):

(i) any default in the payment of the principal of, or the interest on, this Note, as and when the same shall become due and payable;

(ii) Maker shall fail to observe or perform any obligation or shall breach any term or provision of this Note and such failure or breach shall not have been remedied within ten (10) Business Days after the date on which notice of such failure or breach shall have been delivered (other than those occurrences described in other provisions of this Section 3 for which a different grace or cure period is specified, or for which no cure period is specified and which constitute immediate Events of Default);

(iii) Maker shall fail to observe or perform any of its material obligations owed to the Holder or any other material covenant, agreement, representation or warranty contained in, or otherwise commit any material breach hereunder or in any other agreement executed in connection herewith, including the Purchase Agreement;

(iv) Maker shall commence, or there shall be commenced against the Maker a case under any applicable bankruptcy or insolvency laws as now or hereafter in effect or any successor thereto, or the Maker commences any other proceeding under any reorganization, arrangement, adjustment of debt, relief of debtors, dissolution, insolvency or liquidation or similar law of any jurisdiction whether now or hereafter in effect relating to the Maker, or there is commenced against the Maker any such bankruptcy, insolvency or other proceeding which remains undismissed for a period of sixty (60) days; or the Maker is adjudicated insolvent or bankrupt; or any order of relief or other order approving any such case or proceeding is entered; or the Maker suffers any appointment of any custodian or the like for it or any substantial part of its property which continues undischarged or unstayed for a period of 60 days; or the Maker makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; or the Maker shall fail to pay, or shall state that it is unable to pay, or shall be unable to pay, its debts generally as they become due; or the Maker shall call a meeting of its creditors with a view to arranging a composition, adjustment or restructuring of its debts; or the Maker shall by any act or failure to act expressly indicate its consent to, approval of or acquiescence in any of the foregoing; or any corporate or other action is taken by the Maker for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing; or

(v) The occurrence of any event, whether or not such event could have been known through the exercise of due diligence or otherwise, which would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business or prospects of the Maker.

(b) If any Event of Default occurs and shall be continuing, the full principal amount of this Note, together with all accrued interest thereon, shall become, at the Holder’s election, immediately due and payable in cash.

(c) The Holder need not provide and the Maker hereby waives any presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind. Such declaration may be rescinded and annulled by the Holder at any time prior to payment hereunder. No such rescission or annulment shall affect any subsequent Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

4. Negative Covenants. So long as any portion of this Note is outstanding, the Maker will not directly or indirectly amend its articles of incorporation, bylaws or other charter documents so as to adversely affect any rights of the Holder;

5. No Waiver of the Holder’s Rights. All payments of principal and interest shall be made without setoff, deduction or counterclaim. No delay or failure on the part of the Holder in exercising any of its options, powers or rights, nor any partial or single exercise of its options, powers or rights shall constitute a waiver thereof or of any other option, power or right, and no waiver on the part of the Holder of any of its options, powers or rights shall constitute a waiver of any other option, power or right.  Maker hereby waives presentment of payment, protest, and all notices or demands in connection with the delivery, acceptance, performance, default or endorsement of this Note. Acceptance by the Holder of less than the full amount due and payable hereunder shall in no way limit the right of the Holder to require full payment of all sums due and payable hereunder in accordance with the terms hereof.

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6. Modifications. No term or provision contained herein may be modified, amended or waived except by written agreement or consent signed by the party to be bound thereby.

7. Cumulative Rights and Remedies; Usury. The rights and remedies of the Holder expressed herein are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights and remedies otherwise available under this Note, or applicable law (including at equity). The election of the Holder to avail itself of any one or more remedies shall not be a bar to any other available remedies, which the Maker agrees the Holder may take from time to time. If it shall be found that any interest paid or payable hereunder violates applicable laws governing usury, the applicable rate of interest due hereunder shall be reduced to the maximum permitted rate of interest under such law, and any interest previously paid in excess of such legal limit shall be returned to the Company by the Holder.

8. Use of Proceeds. Maker shall use the proceeds from this Note hereunder for general working capital purposes.

9. Severability. If any provision of this Note is declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be in any way invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the balance of this Note shall remain in effect, and if any provision is inapplicable to any person or circumstance, it shall nevertheless remain applicable to all other persons and circumstances.

10. Successors and Assigns. This Note shall be binding upon the Maker and its successors and shall inure to the benefit of the Holder and its successors and assigns. The term “Holder” as used herein, shall also include any endorsee, assignee or other holder of this Note.

11. Lost or Stolen Promissory Note. If this Note is lost, stolen, mutilated or otherwise destroyed, the Maker shall execute and deliver to the Holder a new promissory note containing the same terms, and in the same form, as this Note. In such event, the Maker may require the Holder to deliver to the Maker an affidavit of lost instrument and customary indemnity in respect thereof as a condition to the delivery of any such new promissory note.

12. Governing Law. All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Note shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof. Each of the Maker and the Holder agree that all legal proceedings concerning the interpretations, enforcement and defense of this Note shall be commenced in the state and federal courts sitting in the City of New York, County of New York (the “New York Courts”). Each of the Maker and the Holder hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the New York Courts for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder (including with respect to the enforcement of this Note), and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, or that such suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum. Each of the Maker and the Holder hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof via registered or certified mail or overnight delivery (with evidence of delivery) to the other at the address in effect for notices to it under the Purchase Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law. Each of the Maker and the Holder hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Note or the transactions contemplated hereby.

13. Notice. Any notice or other communication required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing. The addresses for such communications shall be: (i) if to the Company to: Pershing Gold Corporation 0000 Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 0, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxxxx Xx 00000, with a copy to: Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx LLP, 00 Xxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000, Attn: Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Esq., facsimile: (000) 000-0000; and (ii) if to the Holder, to:.

14. Required Notice to the Holder. The Holder is to be notified by the Maker, within five (5), Business Days, in accordance with Section 13, of the existence or occurrence of any Event of Default.

[Signature page follows]

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The undersigned has executed this Note as a maker and not as a surety or guarantor or in any other capacity.

PERSHING GOLD CORPORATION

By:

Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx

President and Chief Executive Officer

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