Napoleon's sword, firearms sold for high price at US auction

The dress sword carried by Napoleon Bonaparte when he staged a coup in 1799, and five of his firearms sold at auction for nearly $2.9 million, US auctioneers announced Tuesday, December 7, 2021, Report informs, citing foreign media.

The lot, which was put up for sale by the Illinois-based Rock Island Auction Company, was sold on December 3 via phone to a buyer who has remained anonymous, company president Kevin Hogan told AFP.

The sword and five ornamented pistols had initially been valued at $1.5 million to $3.5 million.

With the $2.87 million sale, "the buyer of the Napoleon Garniture is taking home a very rare piece of history," Hogan said. "We are pleased to have provided the opportunity for them to acquire such a historical object."

According to the auctioneers, the sword, with its scabbard, was the "crown jewel" of the collection.

The weapon was made by Nicolas-Noel Boutet, who was director of the state arms factory in Versailles.

After being crowned emperor, Napoleon is believed to have presented the sword to general Jean-Andoche Junot, but the general's wife later was forced to sell it to pay off debts.