Leaf from French emperor Napoleon's crown expected to bring 300 times its value in gold

A single leaf from French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte's crown will be auctioned near Paris on Sunday.

The golden laurel leaf weighs only 10 grams, less than a $500 value in gold, but is expected to bring between $118,250 and $177,375 at auction because of it's historic connection, auctioneer Jean-Pierre Osenat told Reuters. It will be auctioned at the Osenat auction house in Fontainebleau.

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The leaf was originally part of the crown Bonaparte placed on his head for the crowning at Notre Dame cathedral in 1804, but this particular leaf never made it to the ceremony. Napoleon asked creator Martin-Guillaume Biennais to remove some leaves because the crown was too heavy. Biennais gave six of the removed leaves to each of his six daughters, one of which is the leaf on sale, according to the Antiques Trade Gazette.

The Gazette reports this leaf has been saved in a red morocco case signed "Biennais au Singe Violet rue S Honoré No 511" and has been passed down throughout Biennais' family.

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