Attributed to Leonardo da Vinci on Wikimedia

Auctions are where history collides with gobs of cash. While art often dominates headlines, certain historical artifacts have commanded jaw-dropping sums at auction. These objects are praised not just for their age and craftsmanship, but because they connect us to defining moments and figures in human history. From Renaissance masterpieces to royal jewels, here are the three most expensive historical artifacts ever sold at auction, each capturing global attention for both their price tags and their stories.

Leonardo da Vinci's Salvator Mundi

Salvador Mundi, a painting depicting Jesus Christ as the savior of the world, made headlines in 2017 when it sold at Christie's auction in New York for an astounding $450,312,500. It was bought by Saudi Arabia's crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman. The painting is attributed to Leonardo da Vinci, but whether it was really his brush strokes that created it is debated by experts to this day. It had been lost to history and then rediscovered before the dramatic sale. 

If it is a true Leonardo, that would make it one of fewer than 20 of his paintings still in existence. After the sale, Salvator Mundi became shrouded in mystery again, with its current location unknown to the public. Perhaps the enigma surrounding this piece is exactly what makes it so coveted. 

Marie Antoinette’s Pearl Pendant

After Jean-Baptiste André Gautier-Dagoty on Wikimedia

In 2018, Sotheby’s Geneva hosted what was described as one of the most important royal jewelry auctions ever seen. Among the treasures being sold was a drop-shaped freshwater pearl pendant once owned by Marie Antoinette, the last queen of France before the French Revolution. It was believed to have been smuggled out of the French royal palace to Vienna in 1791, but many years later, the jewel was returned to Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette's only surviving daughter. It was later passed down to her niece, the Duchess of Parma.

While the exact final auction price was not always publicized, the exquisite piece of royal history likely commanded tens of millions of dollars, one of the highest sums ever paid for a historic jewel. 

Leonardo da Vinci’s Codex Leicester

We weren't kidding when we said works by Leonardo are rare. Just about anything that he touched would fetch a great sum, let alone something he penned, like his scientific manuscript, the Codex Leicester. Written between 1508 and 1510, it's a summary of his observations on topics ranging from the nature of water to celestial phenomena. 

When it appeared at Christie’s New York, collectors recognized it as one of the few remaining major Leonardo manuscripts ever offered publicly. It sold for $30.8 million, securing its place as the most expensive book ever auctioned and one of the most valuable historical artifacts overall.

The Codex was purchased by none other than Bill Gates, who later made its contents publicly accessible by digitizing and displaying them around the world.

These three artifacts highlight the extraordinary intersection of art, history, and human fascination. They're so highly valued not for their contents or materials, but for the unique window they offer into the past.