Napoleon's Sword From 1799 Coup Sold At US Auction For $2.8 Million

Napoleon Bonaparte's sword and five other ornamented pistols being sold at the auction had initially been valued at $1.5 million to $3.5 million.

The dress sword carried by Napoleon Bonaparte when he staged a coup in 1799 and five of his other firearms sold at auction for more than $2.8 million, US auctioneers announced Tuesday.

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.