The talisman believed to once belong to Napoléon Bonaparte went up for auction Friday.
The rare artifact includes a crystal sphinx that is encrusted with 114 royal jewels and a silver base that has been authenticated by leading experts in the field.
The relic dates back to the 1800s, when a Parisian artist created the work of art for Bonaparte.
The auction kicked off at a media event at PGA National Resort hosted by entertainer Pat Boone, golf legend Jack Nicklaus and LPGA Champion Nancy Lopez.
Private experts are estimating the value of the relic at $250 million and a significant portion of the proceeds from the sale of the talisman will benefit charities such as Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Mercy Corps and AIM for the Handicapped.
Bonaparte designed the piece to commemorate his military expeditions and his love for his wife, Empress Josephine.
In 2005, the talisman came into the possession of golf memorabilia collector Randy Jensen, after he found the antiquity on eBay.
Jensen ultimately traded a new set of PING golf clubs for the antiquity, and the artifact’s new owner embarked on a six-year mission to uncover the secrets of the alluring object.
Jensen poured himself into studying the captivating relic and Napoléon, resulting in countless hours of research and authentication by the world’s leading experts in the field.
