Exhibit 10.1

SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT

PERSHING GOLD CORPORATION

Pershing Gold Corporation

1658 Cole Boulevard

Building 6, Suite 210

Lakewood, Colorado 80401

Attn: Stephen Alfers, President & CEO

Ladies and Gentlemen:

1. Subscription. The undersigned (the “Purchaser”) will purchase the number of units (the “Units”) set forth on the signature page to this subscription Agreement (the “Agreement”) at a price of $3.25 per Unit. Each Unit consists of one (1) share of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Common Stock”) of Pershing Gold Corporation, a Nevada corporation (the “Company”) and one (1) thirty (30) month Warrant to purchase 0.5 of a share of Common Stock, with each whole warrant having an exercise price of $4.35, with such exercise price to be subject to adjustment as set forth in the warrant agreement (the “Warrant”). The shares of Common Stock underlying the Warrant may hereinafter be referred to as the “Warrant Shares”. The Unit, the Common Stock, the Warrant and the Warrant Shares are collectively referred to below as the "Securities". The Units are being offered (the “Offering”) by the Company pursuant to the offering terms set forth herein.

2. Payment. The Purchaser will immediately make a wire transfer payment to the Company pursuant to the wire instructions provided on the signature page below, in the full amount of the purchase price of the Units being subscribed for. Together with the wire transfer of the full purchase price, the Purchaser is delivering a completed and executed Signature Page to this Subscription Agreement, along with a completed and executed Accredited Investor Certification, which is annexed hereto. By executing this Subscription Agreement, Purchaser represents and warrants that it has executed the Registration Rights Agreement (attached as Exhibit B) and agreed to the terms of the Warrant (attached as Exhibit C) (this Subscription Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement and the Warrant, collectively, the “Transaction Documents”) .

3. Acceptance of Subscription. The Purchaser understands and agrees that the Company, in its sole discretion, reserves the right to accept or reject this subscription for the Units, in whole or in part, notwithstanding prior receipt by the Purchaser of notice of acceptance of this or any other subscription. The Company will have no obligation hereunder until the Company returns to the Purchaser an executed copy of this Subscription Agreement. If the Purchaser’s subscription is rejected in whole or in part (at the sole discretion of the Company), funds received from the Purchaser and not applied to the purchase of Units will be returned without interest, penalty, expense or deduction, and this Subscription Agreement will thereafter be of further force or effect only to the extent such subscription was accepted. The Purchaser may not revoke this subscription or obtain a return of the subscription amount on or after the date of the closing.

4. Representations and Warranties of the Purchaser. The Purchaser hereby acknowledges, represents, warrants, and agrees as follows:

(a) None of the Securities has been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or any applicable state securities laws. The Purchaser understands that the offering and sale of the Securities is intended to be exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, by virtue of Section 4(a)(2) thereof and Rule 506 of Regulation D promulgated thereunder, based, in part, upon the representations, warranties and agreements of the Purchaser contained in this Subscription Agreement. The Purchaser agrees to supply all requested documents and information to ensure compliance as may be requested by the Company;

(b) Prior to the execution of this Subscription Agreement, the Purchaser and the Purchaser’s attorney, accountant, purchaser representative and/or tax advisor, if any (collectively, “Advisors”), received and carefully reviewed this Subscription Agreement, and each of the Transaction Documents, and all other documents requested by the Purchaser or its Advisors, and understood the information contained therein;

(c) Neither the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the Securities or passed upon or endorsed the merits of the Offering. No representation to the contrary has been made to the Purchaser, and any such representation could be a criminal offense;

(d) All documents, records, and books pertaining to the investment in the Securities including, but not limited to, all information regarding the Company, requested by the Purchaser and its Advisors, were made available for inspection and review;

(e) The Purchaser and its Advisors have had a reasonable opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers from the Company’s officers and any other persons authorized by the Company to answer such questions, concerning the Offering, the Securities, the Transaction Documents and the business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects of the Company, and all such questions have been answered by the Company to the full satisfaction of the Purchaser and its Advisors;

(f) In evaluating the suitability of an investment in the Company, the Purchaser has not relied upon any representation or other information (oral or written) other than those contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 (“ Form 10-K ”) and other periodic filings with the Commission (to the extent not superseded or amended by subsequent filings);

(g) The Purchaser approached the Company with respect to a potential investment in the Company and did not become aware of the offering of the Securities through or as a result of, any form of general solicitation or general advertising including, without limitation, any article, notice, advertisement or other communication published in any newspaper, magazine or similar media or broadcast over television, radio or over the Internet, in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities and is not subscribing for the Securities and did not become aware of the Offering through or as a result of any seminar or meeting, or any solicitation of a subscription, involving a person not previously known to the Purchaser in connection with investments in securities generally;

(h) The Purchaser has taken no action which would give rise to any claim by any person for brokerage commissions, finders’ fees or the like relating to this Subscription Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby;

(i) The Purchaser, either alone or together with its Advisors has such knowledge and experience in financial, tax, and business matters, and, in particular, investments in securities, so as to enable it to utilize the information made available to it in connection with the Offering to evaluate the merits and risks of an investment in the Securities and the Company and to make an informed investment decision with respect thereto;

(j) The Purchaser is not relying on the Company or any of its respective employees or agents with respect to the legal, tax, economic and related considerations of an investment in any of the Securities, and as to such matters the Purchaser has relied on the advice of, or has consulted with, only its own Advisors;

(k) The Purchaser is acquiring the Securities solely for its own account for investment purposes and not with a view to resale or distribution thereof, in whole or in part. The Purchaser has no agreement or arrangement, formal or informal, with any person to sell or transfer all or any part of any of the Securities, and the Purchaser has no plans to enter into any such agreement or arrangement;

(l) The Purchaser understands and agrees that purchase of the Securities is a high-risk investment and the Purchaser is able to afford an investment in a speculative venture having the risks and objectives of the Company. The Purchaser knows it must bear the substantial economic risks of the investment in the Securities indefinitely because none of the Securities may be offered, sold, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise transferred or disposed of, directly or indirectly, unless subsequently registered under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration requirements is available. Legends will be placed on the certificates representing the Securities to the effect that the Securities have not been registered under the Securities Act or applicable state securities laws, and appropriate notations thereof will be made in the Company’s books;

(m) The Purchaser has adequate means of providing for its current financial needs and foreseeable contingencies and has no need for liquidity from its investment in the Securities for an indefinite period of time;

(n) The Purchaser is aware that an investment in the Securities involves a number of very significant risks and has carefully read and considered the Form 10-K, in particular, the matters under the caption “Risk Factors” therein, as well as the Company’s other periodic filings with the Commission (to the extent not superseded or amended by subsequent filings), and understands any of such risk may materially adversely affect the Company’s operations and future prospects;

(o) At the time the Purchaser was offered the Securities, it was, and as of the date hereof it is, and on each date on which it exercises any Warrants, it will be, an “accredited investor” within the meaning of Regulation D, Rule 501(a), promulgated by the Commission under the Securities Act; the Purchaser has truthfully and accurately completed the Purchaser Questionnaire attached to this Subscription Agreement and will submit to the Company in writing such further assurances and information of such status as may be reasonably requested by the Company in order to verify Accredited Investor status under Rule 506 promulgated under Regulation D of the Securities Act;

(p) The Purchaser: (i) if a natural person, represents that the Purchaser has reached the age of 21 and has full power and authority to execute and deliver this Subscription Agreement and all other related agreements or certificates and to carry out the provisions hereof and thereof; (ii) if a corporation, partnership, or limited liability company, or association, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or other entity, represents that such entity was not formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the Securities, such entity is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the state of its organization, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby is authorized by, and will not result in a violation of state law or its charter or other organizational documents, such entity has full power and authority to execute and deliver this Subscription Agreement and all other related agreements or certificates and to carry out the provisions hereof and thereof and to purchase and hold the Securities, the execution and delivery of this Subscription Agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary action, this Subscription Agreement has been duly executed and delivered on behalf of such entity and is a legal, valid and binding obligation of such entity; or (iii) if executing this Subscription Agreement in a representative or fiduciary capacity, represents that it has full power and authority to execute and deliver this Subscription Agreement in such capacity and on behalf of the subscribing individual, ward, partnership, trust, estate, corporation, or limited liability company or partnership, or other entity for whom the Purchaser is executing this Subscription Agreement, and such individual, partnership, ward, trust, estate, corporation, or limited liability company or partnership, or other entity has full right and power to perform pursuant to this Subscription Agreement and make an investment in the Company, and represents that this Subscription Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such entity. The execution and delivery of this Subscription Agreement will not violate or be in conflict with any order, judgment, injunction, agreement or controlling document to which the Purchaser is a party or by which it is bound;

(q) The Purchaser hereby acknowledges receipt and careful review of the Transaction Documents and all other exhibits, annexes and appendices thereto, and has had access to the Company’s Form 10-K and the exhibits thereto as well as the Company’s other periodic filings with the Commission (to the extent not superseded or amended by subsequent filings) as available at the website of the Commission which can be accessed at www.sec.gov;

(r) The Purchaser represents to the Company that any information which the Purchaser has heretofore furnished or is furnishing herewith to the Company is complete and accurate and may be relied upon by the Company in determining the availability of an exemption or exclusion from registration under the Securities Act and any state securities laws in connection with the offering of Securities;

(s) The Purchaser has significant prior investment experience, including investment in non-listed and unregistered securities. The Purchaser has a sufficient net worth to sustain a loss of its entire investment in the Company in the event such a loss should occur. The Purchaser’s overall commitment to investments which are not readily marketable is not excessive in view of the Purchaser’s net worth and financial circumstances and the purchase of the Securities will not cause such commitment to become excessive. This investment is a suitable one for the Purchaser;

(t) The Purchaser is satisfied that it has received adequate information with respect to all matters which it or its Advisors, if any, consider material to its decision to make this investment;

(u) No oral or written representations have been made, or oral or written information furnished, to the Purchaser or its Advisors, if any, in connection with the offering of the Securities;

(v) Within five (5) days after receipt of a request from the Company, the Purchaser will provide such information and deliver such documents as may reasonably be necessary to comply with any and all laws to which the Company or this Offering is subject;

(w) THE SECURITIES OFFERED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE AND ARE BEING OFFERED AND SOLD IN RELIANCE ON EXEMPTIONS OR EXCLUSIONS FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF SAID ACT AND SUCH LAWS. THE SECURITIES ARE SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERABILITY AND RESALE AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED, HYPOTHECATED, TRANSFERRED OR DISPOSED OF, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, EXCEPT AS PERMITTED UNDER SAID ACT AND SUCH LAWS PURSUANT TO REGISTRATION OR EXEMPTION THEREFROM. THE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE COMMISSION, ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION OR ANY OTHER REGULATORY AUTHORITY, NOR HAVE ANY OF THE FOREGOING AUTHORITIES PASSED UPON OR ENDORSED THE MERITS OF THIS OFFERING OR THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THE TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS UNLAWFUL;

(x) In making an investment decision, the Purchaser has relied on its own examination of Company and the terms of the Offering, including the merits and risks involved;

(y) The Purchaser consents to the placement of a legend on any certificate or other document evidencing the Securities and, when issued, the Warrant Shares, to the effect that such securities have not been registered under the Securities Act or any state securities or “blue sky” laws and setting forth or referring to the restrictions on transferability and sale applicable thereto and referenced in this Subscription Agreement. The Purchaser is aware that the Company will make a notation in its appropriate records with respect to the restrictions on the transferability of such Securities. The legend to be placed on each certificate shall be in form substantially similar to the following:

“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY WERE ISSUED PURSUANT TO A MARCH 2016 PRIVATE PLACEMENT AND HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “ACT”) OR ANY STATE SECURITIES OR “BLUE SKY LAWS,” AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, TRANSFERRED, ASSIGNED, PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED ABSENT AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION THEREOF UNDER SUCH ACT OR COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144 PROMULGATED UNDER SUCH ACT, OR UNLESS THE COMPANY HAS RECEIVED AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY AND ITS COUNSEL, THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED.”

(z) The Purchaser acknowledges that if he or she is a registered representative of a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) member firm, he or she must give such firm the notice required by the FINRA’s Rules of Fair Practice, receipt of which must be acknowledged by such firm prior to an investment in the Securities;

(aa) The Purchaser agrees not to issue any public statement with respect to the Offering, the Purchaser’s investment or proposed investment in the Company or the terms of any agreement or covenant between them and the Company without the Company’s prior written consent, except such disclosures as may be required under applicable law; and

(bb) The Purchaser understands that the Securities are “restricted securities” as defined in Rule 144 of the Securities Act and are therefore subject to restrictions on resale. The Purchaser understands and hereby acknowledges that, except as provided in the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company is under no obligation to register the Securities under the Securities Act or any state securities or “blue sky” laws or to assist the Purchaser in obtaining an exemption from various registration requirements, other than as set forth herein.

5. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company hereby represents and warrants to the Purchaser that:

(a) Organization, Good Standing and Qualification . The Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Nevada and has full corporate power and authority to own and use its properties and its assets and conduct its business as currently conducted. Each of the Company’s subsidiaries identified on Schedule 5.1 hereto (the “Subsidiaries”) is an entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation with the requisite corporate power and authority to own and use its properties and assets and to conduct its business as currently conducted. Neither the Company, nor any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of any of the provisions of its respective articles of incorporation, by-laws or other organizational or charter documents, including, but not limited to the Charter Documents (as defined below). Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is duly qualified to conduct business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted or property owned by it makes such qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing, as the case may be, would not result in a direct and/or indirect (i) material adverse effect on the legality, validity or enforceability of any of the Securities and/or this Subscription Agreement, (ii) material adverse effect on the results of operations, assets, business or condition (financial and other) of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (iii) material adverse effect on the Company’s ability to perform in any material respect on a timely basis its obligations under the Transaction Documents and all exhibits, supplements and schedules thereto, as such may be amended from time to time (any of (i), (ii) or (iii), a “Material Adverse Effect”).

(b) Capitalization and Voting Rights . The authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company is as set forth in Schedule 5.2 hereto and all issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. Except as set forth in Schedule 5.2 hereto, (i) there are no outstanding securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries which contain any preemptive, redemption or similar provisions, nor is any holder of securities of the Company or any Subsidiary entitled to preemptive or similar rights arising out of any agreement or understanding with the Company or any Subsidiary by virtue of any of the Transaction Documents, and there are no contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or may become bound to redeem a security of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (ii) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has any stock appreciation rights or “phantom stock” plans or agreements or any similar plan or agreement except for its equity incentive plans set forth on Schedule 5.2 ; and (iii) except as set forth in Schedule 5.2 there are no outstanding options, warrants, agreements, convertible securities, preemptive rights or other rights to subscribe for or to purchase or acquire, any shares of capital stock of the Company or any Subsidiary or contracts, commitments, understandings, or arrangements by which the Company or any Subsidiary is or may become bound to issue any shares of capital stock of the Company or any Subsidiary, or securities or rights convertible or exchangeable into shares of capital stock of the Company or any Subsidiary. Except as set forth in Schedule 5.2 and as otherwise required by law, there are no restrictions upon the voting or transfer of any of the shares of capital stock of the Company pursuant to the Company’s Charter Documents (as defined below) or other governing documents or any agreement or other instruments to which the Company is a party or by which the Company is bound. All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and the shares of capital stock of the Subsidiaries are owned by the Company, free and clear of any mortgages, pledges, liens, claims, charges, encumbrances or other restrictions (collectively, “Encumbrances”). All of such outstanding capital stock has been issued in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws. The issuance and sale of the Securities and, upon issuance, the Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants (the “Warrant Shares”), as contemplated hereby will not obligate the Company to issue shares of Common Stock or other securities to any other person and except as set forth in Schedule 5.2 will not result in the adjustment of the exercise, conversion, exchange or reset price of any outstanding security. The Company is not a party to any outstanding stockholder purchase rights and does not have a “poison pill” or any similar arrangement in effect giving any person the right to purchase any equity interest in the Company upon the occurrence of certain events.

(c) Authorization; Enforceability . The Company has all corporate right, power and authority to enter into, execute and deliver this Subscription Agreement and each other agreement, document, instrument and certificate to be executed by the Company in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, including, but not limited to, the Transaction Documents, and to perform fully its obligations hereunder and thereunder. All corporate action on the part of the Company, its directors and stockholders necessary for the (a) authorization, execution, delivery and performance of this Subscription Agreement and the Transaction Documents by the Company; and (b) authorization, sale, issuance and delivery of the Securities and upon exercise, the Warrant Shares contemplated hereby and the performance of the Company’s obligations under this Subscription Agreement and the Transaction Documents has been taken. This Subscription Agreement and the Transaction Documents have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and each constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its respective terms, subject to laws of general application relating to bankruptcy, insolvency and the relief of debtors and rules of law governing specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies, and to limitations of public policy. The Securities are duly authorized and, when issued and paid for in accordance with the applicable Transaction Documents, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, free and clear of all Encumbrances other than restrictions on transfer provided for in the Transaction Documents. The Warrant Shares, when issued and paid for in accordance with the terms of the Transaction Documents, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, free and clear of all Encumbrances imposed by the Company other than restrictions on transfer provided for in the Transaction Documents. The Company has reserved a sufficient number of Warrant Shares for issuance upon the exercise of the Warrants, free and clear of all Encumbrances, except for restrictions on transfer set forth in the Transaction Documents or imposed by applicable securities laws. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.3 hereto, the issuance and sale of the Securities contemplated hereby will not give rise to any preemptive rights or rights of first refusal on behalf of any person other than the Purchaser.

(d) No Conflict; Governmental Consents .

(i) The execution and delivery by the Company of this Subscription Agreement and the Transaction Documents, the issuance and sale of the Securities (including, when issued, the Warrant Shares) and the consummation of the other transactions contemplated hereby or thereby do not and will not (i) result in the violation of any law, statute, rule, regulation, order, writ, injunction, judgment or decree of any court or governmental authority to or by which the Company is bound including without limitation all foreign, federal, state and local laws applicable to its business and all such laws that affect the environment, except in each case as could not have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) conflict with or violate any provision of the Company’s Articles of Incorporation (the “Articles”), as amended or the Bylaws, (and collectively with the Articles, the “Charter Documents”) of the Company, and (iii) conflict with, or result in a material breach or violation of, any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute (with or without due notice or lapse of time or both) a default or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation (with or without due notice, lapse of time or both) under any agreement, credit facility, lease, loan agreement, mortgage, security agreement, trust indenture or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or by which any of them is bound or to which any of their respective properties or assets is subject, nor result in the creation or imposition of any Encumbrances upon any of the properties or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary.

(ii) No approval by the holders of Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company is required to be obtained by the Company in connection with the authorization, execution, delivery and performance of this Subscription Agreement and the other Transaction Documents or in connection with the authorization, issue and sale of the Securities and, upon issuance, the Warrant Shares, except as has been previously obtained.

(iii) No consent, approval, authorization or other order of any governmental authority or any other person is required to be obtained by the Company in connection with the authorization, execution, delivery and performance of this Subscription Agreement and the other Transaction Documents or in connection with the authorization, issue and sale of the Securities and, upon issuance, the Warrant Shares, except for filings and approvals required to be made or obtained from NASDAQ Global Market (“NASDAQ”) and such post-sale filings as may be required to be made with the SEC and with any state securities regulatory authority, all of which shall be made when required.

(e) Consents of Third Parties . No vote, approval or consent of any holder of capital stock of the Company or any other third parties is required or necessary to be obtained by the Company in connection with the authorization, execution, deliver and performance of this Subscription Agreement and the other Transaction Documents or in connection with the authorization, issue and sale of the Securities and, upon issuance, the Warrant Shares, except as previously obtained, each of which is in full force and effect.

6. Indemnification. The Purchaser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and each of its respective officers, directors, managers, employees, agents, attorneys, control persons and affiliates upon demand from and against all losses, liabilities, claims, damages, costs, fees and expenses whatsoever (including, but not limited to, any and all expenses incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation commenced or threatened) based upon or arising out of any actual or alleged false acknowledgment, representation or warranty, or misrepresentation or omission to state a material fact, or breach by the Purchaser of any covenant or agreement made by the Purchaser herein or in any other document delivered in connection with this Subscription Agreement or any other Transaction Document.

7. Binding Effect. This Subscription Agreement will survive the death or disability of the Purchaser and will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their heirs, executors, administrators, successors, legal representatives, and permitted assigns. If the Purchaser is more than one person, the obligations of the Purchaser hereunder will be joint and several and the agreements, representations, warranties and acknowledgments herein will be deemed to be made by and be binding upon each such person and such person’s heirs, executors, administrators, successors, legal representatives and permitted assigns.

8. Modification. This Subscription Agreement will not be modified or waived except by an instrument in writing signed by the party against whom any such modification or waiver is sought.

9. Notices. Any notice or other communication required or permitted to be given hereunder will be in writing and will be mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested, or delivered by reputable overnight courier such as FedEx against receipt to the party to whom it is to be given (a) if to the Company, at the address set forth on the signature page below or (b) if to the Purchaser, at the address set forth on the signature page hereof (or, in either case, to such other address as the party being notified will have furnished in writing in accordance with the provisions of this Section 9). Any notice or other communication given by certified mail will be deemed given at the time of certification thereof, except for a notice changing a party’s address which will be deemed given at the time of receipt thereof. Any notice or other communication given by overnight courier will be deemed given at the time of delivery.

10. Assignability. This Subscription Agreement and the rights, interests and obligations hereunder are not transferable or assignable by the Purchaser and the transfer or assignment of any of the Securities will be made only in accordance with all applicable laws.

11. Applicable Law. This Subscription Agreement will be governed by and construed under the laws of the State of Nevada as applied to agreements among Nevada residents entered into and to be performed entirely within Nevada. The parties hereto (1) agree that any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Subscription Agreement will be instituted exclusively in the state or federal courts sitting in the State of Nevada (2) waive any objection which the parties may have now or hereafter to the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding, and (3) irrevocably consent to the jurisdiction of the state or federal courts sitting in Nevada in any such suit, action or proceeding. Each of the parties hereto further agrees to accept and acknowledge service of any and all process which may be served in any such suit, action or proceeding in the state or federal courts sitting in Nevada and agrees that service of process upon it mailed by certified mail to its address will be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon it, in any such suit, action or proceeding. THE PARTIES HERETO AGREE TO WAIVE THEIR RESPECTIVE RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON OR ARISING OUT OF THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT OR ANY DOCUMENT OR AGREEMENT CONTEMPLATED HEREBY .

12. Blue Sky Qualification. The purchase of Securities pursuant to this Subscription Agreement is expressly conditioned upon the exemption from qualification of the offer and sale of the Securities from applicable federal and state securities laws.

13. Use of Pronouns. All pronouns and any variations thereof used herein will be deemed to refer to the masculine, feminine, neuter, singular or plural as the identity of the person or persons referred to may require.

14. Confidentiality. The Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that any information or data the Purchaser has acquired from or about the Company not otherwise properly in the public domain, was received in confidence. The Purchaser agrees not to divulge, communicate or disclose, except as may be required by law or for the performance of this Subscription Agreement, or use to the detriment of the Company or for the benefit of any other person or persons, or misuse in any way, any confidential information of the Company, including any trade or business secrets of the Company and any business materials that are treated by the Company as confidential or proprietary, including, without limitation, confidential information obtained by or given to the Company about or belonging to third parties.

15. Miscellaneous.

(a) This Subscription Agreement, together with the other Transaction Documents, constitutes the entire agreement between the Purchaser and the Company with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior oral or written agreements and understandings, if any, relating to the subject matter hereof. The terms and provisions of this Subscription Agreement may be waived, or consent for the departure therefrom granted, only by a written document executed by the party entitled to the benefits of such terms or provisions.

(b) Each of the Purchaser’s and the Company’s representations and warranties made in this Subscription Agreement will survive the execution and delivery hereof and delivery of the Securities.

(c) Each of the parties hereto will pay its own fees and expenses (including the fees of any attorneys, accountants, appraisers or others engaged by such party) in connection with this Subscription Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated.

(d) This Subscription Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts each of which will be deemed an original, but all of which will together constitute one and the same instrument.

(e) Each provision of this Subscription Agreement will be considered separable and, if for any reason any provision or provisions hereof are determined to be invalid or contrary to applicable law, such invalidity or illegality will not impair the operation of or affect the remaining portions of this Subscription Agreement.

(f) Paragraph titles are for descriptive purposes only and will not control or alter the meaning of this Subscription Agreement as set forth in the text.

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Exhibit 10.2

PERSHING GOLD CORPORATION
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (the “ Agreement ”), dated as of March 28, 2016, is made by and between Pershing Gold Corporation, a Nevada corporation (the “ Company ”) and Donald Smith Value Fund, L.P., a Delaware Partnership (the “ Investor ” ).

R E C I T A L S

WHEREAS , in connection with that certain Subscription Agreement of even date herewith by and between the Company and the Investor (the “ Subscription Agreement ”), Investor has purchased from the Company certain units (the “ Units ”), each Unit consisting of (a) one share (the “ Share ” and collectively with all Shares issued as part of the Units, “ Shares ”) of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company (“ Common Stock ”), and (b) a warrant (the “ Warrant ” and collectively with all Warrants issued as part of the Units, “ Warrants ”) to purchase 0.5 of a share of Common Stock at an exercise price of $4.35, for a period beginning six (6) months and one day from, and ending thirty (30) months from, the date of issuance, at a negotiated price of $3.25 per Unit.

WHEREAS , to induce the Investor to purchase the Units, the Company has agreed to grant the Investor certain rights with respect to registration of Registrable Securities under the Securities Act pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

AGREEMENT

NOW, THEREFORE , the Company and the Investor, and each of them, hereby covenant and agree as follows:

1. Recitals . The recitals set forth above are true and correct and are incorporated herein by reference.

2. Certain Definitions . As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following respective meanings:

“ Agreement ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble hereof.

“ Automatic Registration Statement ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section  3(a) of this Agreement.

“ Closing ” shall mean the closing of the sale of the Units purchased by an Investor.

“ Closing Date ” means the date on which the Closing occurred.

“ Commission ” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any other federal agency at the time administering the Securities Act.

“ Common Stock” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals hereof.

“ Company ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble hereof.

“ Effectiveness Date ” shall mean that date which is sixty (60) days following the Filing Date (in case of a no review by the Commission staff) or one hundred eighty (180) days following the Filing Date (in the case of a review by the Commission staff).

“ Effectiveness Period ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section  3(a) of this Agreement.

“ End of Suspension Notice ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(c) of this Agreement.

“ Exchange Act ” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

“ Filing Date ” shall mean with respect to the Automatic Registration Statement required hereunder, that date which is the later of (i) forty-five (45) days following the Final Closing Date and (ii) the date which is five (5) business days after the registration statement registering the resale of Common Stock issued or issuable to investors in the Company’s February 25, 2016 private placement is declared effective by the Commission, and with respect to any additional Registration Statements which may be required herein, the earliest practical date on which the Company is permitted by SEC Guidance to file such additional Registration Statement related to the Registrable Securities.

“ Final Closing Date ” means closing date of the Offering after which the Company ceases to offer for sale the Units.

“ Investor ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble hereof.

“ Offering ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Subscription Agreement.

“ Piggyback Registration ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) of this Agreement.

“ Prospectus ” means the prospectus included in a Registration Statement (including, without limitation, a prospectus that includes any information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement, and all other amendments and supplements to the Prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.

“ Purchase Price ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Subscription Agreements.

“ Register ,” “ registered ” and “ registration ” each shall refer to a registration of the Registrable Securities effected by preparing and filing a Registration Statement or statements or similar documents in compliance with the Securities Act and the declaration or ordering of effectiveness of such Registration Statement or document by the Commission.

“ Registrable Securities ” shall mean (a) all Shares, (b) all Warrant Shares then issuable upon exercise of the Warrants delivered to the Investor in connection with the Offering (assuming on such date the Warrants are exercised in full without regard to any exercise limitations therein), and (c) any securities issued or then issuable upon any stock split, dividend or other distribution,  recapitalization or similar event with respect to the foregoing provided, however, that any such Registrable Securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities (i) when subject to an effective Registration Statement under the Securities Act as provided for hereunder, (ii) upon any sale pursuant to a Registration Statement or Rule 144 under the Securities Act or (iii) at such time such securities become eligible for resale without volume or manner of sale restrictions and without current public information pursuant to Rule 144(c) as set forth in a written opinion letter to such effect, addressed, delivered and acceptable to the affected Investor.

“ Registration Statement ” means any registration statement required to be filed hereunder pursuant to Sections 3 or 4 and any additional registration statements contemplated herein, including (in each case) the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to any such registration statement or Prospectus, including pre- and post-effective amendments, all exhibits thereto, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in any such registration statement.

“ Rule 415 ” means Rule 415 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended or interpreted from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same purpose and effect as such Rule.

“ Rule 424 ” means Rule 424 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended or interpreted from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same purpose and effect as such Rule.

“ SEC Guidance ” means (i) any publicly-available written or oral guidance, comments, requirements or requests of the Commission staff and (ii) the Securities Act.

“ Securities Act ” shall mean the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

“ Selling Stockholder Questionnaire ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6  of this Agreement.

“ Shares ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals hereof.

“ Subscription Agreement ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals hereof.

“ Suspension Event ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(c) of this Agreement.

“ Suspension Notice ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(c) of this Agreement.

“ Warrant ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals hereof.

“ Warrant Shares ” shall mean the shares of Common Stock to be issued upon exercise of the Warrants.

Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Subscription Agreement.

3. Automatic Registration .

(a) On or prior to the Filing Date, the Company shall prepare and file with the Commission a registration statement (the “ Automatic Registration Statement ”) covering the resale of all of the Registrable Securities for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415. The Automatic Registration Statement required hereunder shall be on Form S-1 or Form S-3, as applicable, and shall contain substantially the “Plan of Distribution” attached hereto as Annex A .  Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Automatic Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as possible after the filing thereof, but in any event not later than the Effectiveness Date, and shall use its best efforts to keep the Automatic Registration Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act until the earlier of (i) the date when all Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement have been sold thereunder or pursuant to Rule 144 or (ii) the date when all Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement may be sold by non-affiliates of the Company without the requirement for the Company to be in compliance with the current public information requirement under Rule 144(c), as determined by counsel to the Company pursuant to a written opinion letter to such effect, addressed, delivered and acceptable to the affected Investor (the “ Effectiveness Period ”). The maximum amount of Registrable Securities that may be included in the Automatic Registration Statement at any one time shall be limited by Rule 415 as required by the Commission. In the event that there is a limitation by the Commission on the number of Registrable Securities that may be included for registration at one time, the Company shall promptly so advise the Investor and use its best efforts to file an additional Automatic Registration Statement covering such ineligible Registrable Securities, on a pro-rata basis, within 30 days of the date such securities become eligible and cause such Automatic Registration Statement to be declared effective by the Commission as soon as reasonably practicable.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, the Company shall have the right to delay the filing of the Registration Statement for a period not in excess of 60 consecutive days and no more than 90 days in any consecutive 12-month period (a “ Delay Period ”), if the Company is pursuing a public offering of securities and the underwriter recommends a Delay Period.

(c) In the case of an event that causes the Company to suspend the use of a Registration Statement (a “ Suspension Event ”), the Company shall give written notice (a “ Suspension Notice ”) to the Investor to suspend sales of the Registrable Securities included in the Registration Statement and such notice shall continue only for so long as the Suspension Event or its effect is continuing. No Investor shall effect any sales of the Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement (or such filings) at any time after it has received a Suspension Notice from the Company and prior to receipt of an End of Suspension Notice (as defined below) with respect to such Registration Statement. The Investor may recommence effecting sales of the Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement (or such filings) following further notice to such effect (an “ End of Suspension Notice ”) from the Company, which End of Suspension Notice shall be given by the Company to the Investor in the manner described above promptly following the conclusion of any Suspension Event and its effect.

(d) If: (i) the Automatic Registration Statement is not filed on or prior to its Filing Date (if the Company files the Automatic Registration Statement without affording the holders of Registrable Securities the opportunity to review and comment on the same as required by Section 5(a) herein, the Company shall be deemed to have not satisfied this clause (i)); or (ii) a Registration Statement registering for resale all of the Registrable Securities is not declared effective by the Commission by the Effectiveness Date (unless the reason for such non-registration of all or any portion of the Registrable Securities is as a result of SEC Guidance under Rule 415 or similar rule which limits the number of Registrable Securities which may be included in a registration statement with respect to the holders); or (iii) after the effective date of a Registration Statement, such Registration Statement ceases for any reason to remain continuously effective as to all Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement, or the Investor is otherwise not permitted to utilize the prospectus therein to resell such Registrable Securities, for more than ten (10) consecutive calendar days or more than an aggregate of fifteen (15) calendar days (which need not be consecutive calendar days) during any 12-month period (any such failure or breach being referred to as an “ Event ”, and for purposes of clauses (i) and (ii), the date on which such Event occurs, and for purpose of clause (iii) the date which such ten (10) or fifteen (15) calendar day period, as applicable, is exceeded being referred to as an “ Event Date ”) , then, in addition to any other rights the Investor may have hereunder or under applicable law, on each such Event Date and on each monthly anniversary of each such Event Date (if the applicable Event shall not have been cured by such date) until the applicable Event is cured, the Company shall pay to each Investor an amount in cash, as partial liquidated damages and not as a penalty, equal to 1.0% of the aggregate purchase price paid by such Investor pursuant to the Subscription Agreement. The parties agree that the maximum aggregate liquidated damages payable to an Investor under this Agreement shall be 6% of the aggregate Purchase Price paid by such Investor.  If the Company fails to pay any partial liquidated damages pursuant to this Section in full within seven days after the date payable, the Company will pay interest thereon at a rate of 18% per annum (or such lesser maximum amount that is permitted to be paid by applicable law) to the Investor, accruing daily from the date such partial liquidated damages are due until such amounts, plus all such interest thereon, are paid in full. The partial liquidated damages pursuant to the terms hereof shall apply on a daily pro rata basis for any portion of a month prior to the cure of an Event. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no payments shall be owed (i) to any affiliate of the Company, (ii) with respect to any period during which all of the holder’s Registrable Shares may be sold by such holder under Rule 144 without the requirement for the Company to be in compliance with the current public information requirement under Rule 144(c), or (iii) in circumstances described in Section 3(c) .

4. Piggyback Registrations .

(a) With respect to any Registrable Securities not otherwise included in the Automatic Registration Statement or any other Registration Statement as a result of any limitation imposed by the Commission under Rule 415 (the “ Excluded Registrable Securities ”), whenever the Company proposes to register (including, for this purpose, a registration effected by the Company for other shareholders) any of its securities under the Securities Act (other than pursuant to (i) an Automatic Registration pursuant to Section 3 hereof or (ii) registration pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-4 or S-8 or any successor forms thereto), and the registration form to be used may be used for the registration of Registrable Securities (a “ Piggyback Registration ”), the Company will give written notice to the holder of Excluded Registrable Securities of its intention to effect such a registration and will, subject to the provisions of Section 4(b) hereof, include in such registration all Excluded Registrable Securities with respect to which the Company has received a written request for inclusion therein within twenty (20) days after the receipt of the Company’s notice.

(b) If a Piggyback Registration is an underwritten secondary registration on behalf of holders of the Company’s securities, and the managing underwriters advise the Company in writing that in their opinion the number of securities requested to be included in such registration exceeds the number which can be sold in such offering without adversely affecting the marketability of the offering, the Company will, if permitted by all applicable agreements, include in such registration a pro rata share of Excluded Registrable Securities requested to be included in such Registration Statement as calculated by dividing the number of Excluded Registrable Securities requested to be included in such Registration Statement by the number of the Company’s securities requested to be included in such Registration Statement by all selling security holders. In such event, the holder of Excluded Registrable Securities shall continue to have registration rights under this Agreement with respect to any Excluded Registrable Securities not so included in such Registration Statement.

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if, at any time after giving a notice of Piggyback Registration and prior to the effective date of the Registration Statement filed in connection with such registration, the Company shall determine for any reason not to register or to delay registration of such securities, the Company may, at its election, give written notice of such determination to each record holder of Excluded Registrable Securities and, following such notice, (i) in the case of a determination not to register, shall be relieved of its obligation to register any Excluded Registrable Securities in connection with such registration, and (ii) in the case of determination to delay registering, shall be permitted to delay registering any Excluded Registrable Securities for the same period as the delay in registering such other securities.

5. Registration Procedures . If and whenever the Company is required to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities pursuant to this Agreement, the Company will:

(a) not less than four (4) trading days prior to the filing of each Registration Statement and not less than one (1) trading day prior to the filing of any related Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto (including any document that would be incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference), and subject, if appropriate, to the relevant parties’ entry into a customary agreement to maintain the confidentiality of any non-public information provided (a “ Confidentiality Agreement ”) or the Company may excise any information which would constitute material non-public information regarding the Company, the Company shall (i) furnish to one counsel on behalf of all sellers of Registrable Securities copies of all such documents proposed to be filed, which documents (other than those incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference) will be subject to the review of such sellers, and (ii) cause its officers and directors, counsel and independent registered public accountants to respond to such inquiries as shall be necessary, in the reasonable opinion of counsel to the sellers of Registrable Securities, to conduct a reasonable investigation within the meaning of the Securities Act. Notwithstanding the above, the Company shall not be obligated to provide each seller of Registrable Securities advance copies of any universal shelf registration statement registering securities in addition to those required hereunder, or any Prospectus prepared thereto.

(b) prepare and file with the Commission the Registration Statement with respect to such Registrable Securities and use its best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective in an expeditious manner;

(c) (i) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments, including post-effective amendments, to a Registration Statement and the Prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep a Registration Statement continuously effective as to the applicable Registrable Securities for the Effectiveness Period, (ii) cause the related Prospectus to be amended or supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement (subject to the terms of this Agreement), and, as so supplemented or amended, to be filed pursuant to Rule 424, (iii) respond as promptly as reasonably possible to any comments received from the Commission with respect to a Registration Statement or any amendment thereto and provide as promptly as reasonably possible to one counsel for all sellers of Registrable Securities true and complete copies of all correspondence from and to the Commission relating to a Registration Statement (provided that, the Company may either obtain a Confidentiality Agreement from Investor or excise any information contained therein which would constitute material non-public information regarding the Company), and (iv) comply in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as amended, with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement during the applicable period in accordance (subject to the terms of this Agreement) with the intended methods of disposition by each seller of Registrable Securities thereof set forth in such Registration Statement as so amended or in such Prospectus as so supplemented.

(d) if during the Effectiveness Period, the number of Registrable Securities at any time exceeds 100% of the number of shares of Common Stock then registered in a Registration Statement, then the Company shall file as soon as reasonably practicable, but in any case prior to the applicable Filing Date, an additional Registration Statement covering the resale by the Investor of not less than the number of such Registrable Securities.

(e) furnish to each seller of Registrable Securities and to each underwriter such number of copies of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus included therein (including each preliminary prospectus) as such persons reasonably may request in order to facilitate the intended disposition of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement;

(f) use its commercially reasonable efforts (i) to register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement under the state securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions as the sellers of Registrable Securities or, in the case of an underwritten public offering, the managing underwriter, reasonably shall request, (ii) to prepare and file in those jurisdictions such amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements, and take such other actions, as may be necessary to maintain such registration and qualification in effect at all times for the period of distribution contemplated thereby, and (iii) to take such further action as may be necessary or advisable to enable the disposition of the Registrable Securities in such jurisdictions, provided, that the Company shall not for any such purpose be required to qualify generally to transact business as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction where it is not so qualified or to consent to general service of process in any such jurisdiction;

(g) use its commercially reasonable efforts to list the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement with any securities exchange on which the Common Stock of the Company is then listed;

(h) immediately notify each seller of Registrable Securities and each underwriter under such Registration Statement, at any time when a Prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of the happening of any event of which the Company has knowledge as a result of which the Prospectus contained in such Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing and promptly amend or supplement such Registration Statement to correct any such untrue statement or omission;

(i) promptly notify each seller of Registrable Securities of the issuance by the Commission or any other federal or state regulatory authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose and make every reasonable effort to prevent the issuance of any stop order and, if any stop order is issued, to obtain the lifting thereof at the earliest possible time;

(j) if the offering is an underwritten offering, enter into a written agreement with the managing underwriter selected in the manner herein provided in such form and containing such provisions as are usual and customary in the securities business for such an arrangement between such underwriter and companies of the Company’s size and investment stature, including, without limitation, customary indemnification and contribution provisions;

(k) if the offering is an underwritten offering, at the request of any Investor, furnish to such Investor on the date that Registrable Securities are delivered to the underwriters for sale pursuant to such offering: (i) a copy of an opinion, dated such date, of counsel representing the Company for the purposes of such registration, addressed to the underwriters, stating that such Registration Statement has become effective under the Securities Act and that (A) to the knowledge of such counsel, no stop order suspending the effectiveness thereof has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or contemplated under the Securities Act, (B) the Registration Statement, the related Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereof comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act (except that such counsel need not express any opinion as to financial statements or other financial, statistical, or technical information, including without limitation information regarding mineral reserves, mineralized material or resources, contained therein) and (C) to such other effects as reasonably may be requested by counsel for the underwriters; and (ii) a copy of a letter dated such date from the independent public accountants retained by the Company, addressed to the underwriters, stating that they are independent registered public accountants within the meaning of the Securities Act and that, in the opinion of such accountants, the financial statements of the Company included in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereof, comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Securities Act, and such letter shall additionally cover such other financial matters (including information as to the period ending no more than five business days prior to the date of such letter) with respect to such registration as such underwriters reasonably may request;

(l) take all actions reasonably necessary to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates (not bearing any legend restricting the sale or transfer of such securities) representing the Registrable Securities sold pursuant to the Registration Statement and to enable such certificates to be in such denominations and registered in such names as each Investor or any underwriters may reasonably request; and

(m) take all other reasonable actions necessary to expedite and facilitate the registration of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement.

6. Obligations of Investor . Investor shall furnish to the Company such information regarding the Investor, the number of Registrable Securities owned and proposed to be sold by it, the intended method of disposition of such securities and any other information as shall be required to effect the registration of the Registrable Securities, and cooperate with the Company in preparing the Registration Statement and in complying with the requirements of the Securities Act. Investor agrees to furnish to the Company a completed questionnaire in the form attached to this Agreement as Exhibit A to the Subscription Agreement (a “ Selling Stockholder Questionnaire ”) on a date that is not less than fifteen (15) trading days prior to the Filing. The Company shall have no obligation to include in the Registration Statement Registrable Securities of Investor if Investor has failed to timely furnish such information which, in the opinion of counsel to the Company, is reasonably required to be furnished or confirmed in order for the Registration Statement, to comply with the Securities Act.

7. Expenses .

(a) All expenses incurred by the Company in complying with Sections 3, 4 and 5 including, without limitation, all registration and filing fees (including the fees of the Commission and any other regulatory body with which the Company is required to file), printing expenses, fees and disbursements of counsel and independent public accountants for the Company, fees and expenses (including counsel fees) incurred in connection with complying with state securities or “blue sky” laws, and fees of transfer agents and registrars are referred to herein as “ Registration Expenses ”. All underwriting discounts and selling commissions applicable to the sale of Registrable Securities are referred to herein as “ Selling Expenses ”.

(b) The Company will pay all Registration Expenses in connection with any Registration Statement filed hereunder, and the Selling Expenses in connection with each such Registration Statement shall be borne by the participating sellers in proportion to the number of Registrable Securities sold by each or as they may otherwise agree.

(c) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, at the request of any Investor, the Company shall employ its counsel at the Company’s expense to prepare any and all legal opinions necessary for the prompt removal of restrictive legends from certificates representing Registrable Securities as, when and to the extent such legends may be removed in compliance with the Securities Act and/or Rule 144.

8. Indemnification and Contribution .

(a) In the event of a registration of any of the Registrable Securities under the Securities Act pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, the Company will indemnify and hold harmless and pay and reimburse, Investor thereunder, each underwriter of such Registrable Securities thereunder and each other person, if any, who controls such seller or underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which each such Investor, underwriter or controlling person may become subject under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any Registration Statement under which such Registrable Securities were registered under the Securities Act pursuant hereto or any preliminary prospectus or final prospectus contained therein, or any amendment or supplement thereof, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or any violation or alleged violation of the Securities Act or any state securities or “blue sky” laws and will reimburse each such Investor, underwriter and controlling person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, that the Company will not be liable in any such case if and to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon the Company’s reliance on an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission so made in conformity with information furnished in writing (which may include by email) by any such seller, any such underwriter or any such controlling person in writing specifically for use in such Registration Statement or prospectus.

(b) In the event of a registration of any of the Registrable Securities under the Securities Act pursuant hereto, each seller of such Registrable Securities thereunder, severally and not jointly, will indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act, each officer of the Company who signs the Registration Statement, each director of the Company, each underwriter and each person who controls any underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act, against all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which the Company or such officer, director, underwriter or controlling person may become subject under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon reliance on any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the registration statement under which such Registrable Securities were registered under the Securities Act pursuant hereto or any preliminary prospectus or final prospectus contained therein, or any amendment or supplement thereof, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and will reimburse the Company and each such officer, director, underwriter and controlling person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided that such seller will be liable hereunder in any such case if and only to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with information pertaining to such seller, as such, furnished in writing to the Company by such seller specifically for use in such Registration Statement or prospectus; and provided, further, that the liability of each seller hereunder shall be limited to the proceeds received by such seller from the sale of Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the indemnity provided in this Section 8(b) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense if such settlement is effected without the consent of such indemnified party and provided further, that the Company shall not be liable in any such case pursuant to this Section 8 to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability (or action in respect thereof) arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission in such Registration Statement, which untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission is completely corrected in an amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement and the undersigned indemnitees thereafter fail to deliver or cause to be delivered such Registration Statement as so amended or supplemented prior to or concurrently with the sale of the Registrable Securities to the person asserting such loss, claim, damage or liability (or actions in respect thereof) or expense after the Company has furnished the undersigned with the same.

(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party hereunder of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party hereunder, notify the indemnifying party in writing thereof, but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have to such indemnified party other than under this Section 8 and shall only relieve it from any liability which it may have to such indemnified party under this Section 8 if and to the extent the indemnifying party is materially prejudiced by such omission. In case any such action shall be brought against any indemnified party and it shall notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate in and, to the extent it shall wish, to assume and undertake the defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party, and, after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume and undertake the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 8 for any legal expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation and of liaison with counsel so selected; provided that if the defendants in any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded based upon written advice of its counsel that there may be reasonable defenses available to it that are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, or if the interests of the indemnified party reasonably may be deemed to conflict with the interests of the indemnifying party, the indemnified party shall have the right to select a separate counsel and to assume such legal defenses and otherwise to participate in the defense of such action, with the expenses and fees of such separate counsel and other expenses related to such participation to be reimbursed by the indemnifying party as incurred.

(d) In order to provide for just and equitable contribution to joint liability under the Securities Act in any case in which either (i) any holder of Registrable Securities exercising rights under this Agreement, or any controlling person of any such holder, makes a claim for indemnification pursuant to this Section 8 but it is judicially determined (by the entry of a final judgment or decree by a court of competent jurisdiction and the expiration of time to appeal or the denial of the last right of appeal) that such indemnification may not be enforced in such case notwithstanding the fact that this Section 8 provides for indemnification in such case, or (ii) contribution under the Securities Act may be required on the part of any such selling holder or any such controlling person in circumstances for which indemnification is provided under this Section 8 ; then, and in each such case, the Company and such holder will contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which they may be subject (after contribution from others) in such proportion so that such holder is responsible for the portion represented by the percentage that the public offering price of its Registrable Securities offered by the Registration Statement bears to the public offering price of all securities offered by such Registration Statement, and the Company is responsible for the remaining portion; provided, that, in any such case, (A) no such holder will be required to contribute any amount in excess of the public offering price of all such Registrable Securities offered by it pursuant to such Registration Statement and (B) no person or entity guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 12(f) of the Securities Act) will be entitled to contribution from any person or entity who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

9. Changes in Capital Stock . If, and as often as, there is any change in the capital stock of the Company by way of a stock split, stock dividend, combination or reclassification, or through a merger, consolidation, reorganization or recapitalization, or by any other means, appropriate adjustment shall be made in the provisions hereof so that the rights and privileges granted hereby shall continue as so changed.

10. Representations and Warranties of the Company . The Company represents and warrants to the Investor as follows:

(a) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate action and will not violate any provision of law, any order of any court or other agency of government, the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company or any provision of any indenture, agreement or other instrument to which it or any or its properties or assets is bound, conflict with, result in a breach of or constitute (with due notice or lapse of time or both) a default under any such indenture, agreement or other instrument or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance of any nature whatsoever upon any of the properties or assets of the Company or its subsidiaries.

(b) This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other laws affecting the rights of creditors generally and to general equitable principles and the availability of specific performance.

11. Rule 144 Requirements . The Company agrees to, for so long as Investor owns Registrable Securities:

(a) make and keep current public information about the Company available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act;

(b) use its best efforts to file with the Commission in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act (at any time after it has become subject to such reporting requirements); and

(c) furnish to Investor upon request (i) a written statement by the Company as to its compliance with the reporting requirements of Rule 144 and of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act (at any time after it has become subject to such reporting requirements), (ii) a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company, and (iii) such other reports and documents of the Company as such holder may reasonably request to avail itself of any similar rule or regulation of the Commission allowing it to sell any such securities without registration.

12. Termination . All of the Company’s obligations to register Registrable Securities under Sections 3, 4, and 5 hereof shall terminate upon the date on which Investor no longer holds Registrable Securities or the date on which such Investor’s Registrable Securities are eligible for resale without volume or manner of sale restrictions pursuant to Rule 144 and without the requirement for the Company to be in compliance with the current public information requirement under Rule 144(c), as determined by counsel to the Company pursuant to a written opinion letter to such effect, addressed, delivered and acceptable to the affected Investor.

13. Miscellaneous .

(a) All covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement by or on behalf of any of the parties hereto shall bind and inure to the benefit of the respective successors and assigns of the parties hereto (including without limitation transferees of any Registrable Securities), whether so expressed or not.

(b) All notices, requests, consents and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be delivered in person, mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed, facsimile or e-mail of a PDF document (with confirmation of transmission) or sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier service: (i) if to the Company, at Pershing Gold Corporation, 1658 Cole Boulevard, Building 6, Suite 200, Lakewood, Colorado 80401, Attn: Stephen Alfers, President & CEO; and (ii) if to any holder of Registrable Securities, to such holder at such address as may have been furnished to the Company or its counsel in writing by such holder; or, in any case, at such other address or addresses as shall have been furnished, in writing to the Company or its counsel (in the case of a holder of Registrable Securities) or to the holders of Registrable Securities (in the case of the Company) in accordance with the provisions of this paragraph. Any notice or other communication or deliveries hereunder shall be deemed given and effective upon actual receipt by the party or at the address of the party to whom such notice is required to be given.

(c) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed under the laws of the State of Nevada, without giving effect to principles of conflicts of laws. The Company and Investor (i) agree that any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement may be instituted exclusively in the state or federal courts located in the State of Nevada, (ii) waive any objection which the Company or Investor may have now or hereafter to the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding, and (iii) irrevocably consent to the jurisdiction of any such federal or state court in any such suit, action or proceeding. The Company and Investor further agree to accept and acknowledge service of any and all process which may be served in any such suit, action or proceeding and agree that service of process upon the Company or Investor mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, to, in the case of the Company, the Company’s address, and in the case of an Investor, to such Investor’s address as set forth on the Company’s books and records, shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon the Company, in any such suit, action or proceeding. THE PARTIES HERETO AGREE TO WAIVE THEIR RESPECTIVE RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY DOCUMENT OR AGREEMENT CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

(d) In the event of a breach by the Company or by the Investor, of any of their obligations under this Agreement, the Investor or the Company, as the case may be, in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights granted by law and under this Agreement, including recovery of damages, will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Agreement. The Company and the Investor agree that monetary damages would not provide adequate compensation for any losses incurred by reason of a breach by it of any of the provisions of this Agreement and each of them hereby further agrees that, in the event of any action for specific performance in respect of such breach, it shall waive the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.

(e) This Agreement may not be amended or modified without the written consent of the Company and the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities.

(f) Failure of any party to exercise any right or remedy under this Agreement or otherwise, or delay by a party in exercising such right or remedy, shall not operate as a waiver thereof. No waiver shall be effective unless and until it is in writing and signed by the party granting the waiver.

(g) This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts (including by facsimile or .pdf transmission) each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement, once executed by a party, may be delivered to the other party hereto by facsimile transmission or sent by electronic mail of a copy of this Agreement bearing the signature of the party so delivering this Agreement.

(h) If any provision of this Agreement shall be held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, such illegality, invalidity or unenforceability shall attach only to such provision and shall not in any manner affect or render illegal, invalid or unenforceable any other provision of this Agreement, and this Agreement shall be carried out as if any such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision were not contained herein.

(i) This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the Company and the Investor relative to the subject matter hereof and supersedes in its entirety any and all prior agreements, understandings and discussions with respect thereto.

(j) The headings of the sections of this Agreement are for convenience and shall not by themselves determine the interpretation of this Agreement.

[ Signature Page Follows ]

Signature Page to the Registration Rights Agreement

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Registration Rights Agreement as of the date set forth in the first paragraph hereof.

COMPANY:

PERSHING GOLD CORP.

INVESTORS:

DONALD SMITH VALUE FUND, L.P.

Signature Page to the Registration Rights Agreement