When most people think of the pope, the image of him riding a motorcycle might not be the first one that comes to mind. But as it turns out, Pope Francis, who ascended to the top spot in the Catholic Church in 2013, has two Harley-Davidsons, and one of them will be auctioned off in London on Feb. 6. It's just one of several major pieces of auction news to make headlines in recent weeks.
The pope's Harley
Pope Francis was given the Harley that will be on the block when the company held a 110th anniversary celebration in St. Peter's Square on June 16, 2013. At the ceremony, representatives from Harley-Davidson presented the pope with two motorcycles and a leather jacket.
Now one of the bikes – a 2013 FXDC Dyna Super Glyde Custom 110th Anniversary Edition – with the pope's signature scrawled across the gas tank will be sold to the highest bidder. Proceeds from the auction will go to benefit the Caritas Roma charity, which supports a hostel and soup kitchen in Rome.
Rusted-out Ferrari expected to fetch $2 million
Usually, a heavy amount of rust and an engine that won't start will sink a car's value. But that is hardly the case with a Ferrari that will soon go up for auction. An incredibly rare 1967 Ferrari 330 GTS is expected to draw a $2 million bid when it hits the block at a collectibles auction in Scottsdale, Ariz.
"There is a premium right now on cars that are in original condition," David Gooding, who will be one of the auctioneers handling the event, told NBC News by way of explaining the expected price tag. "For some people, this car, with its original paint and materials, is more attractive than a shiny restored car where the chrome is shining and everything is perfect."
Not your average coin auction
As bitcoins have gained popularity over the past few years, they have also drawn a lot of controversy. One of the biggest reasons people have been wary of the digital currency is that it is often used to make illegal purchases due the fact that it is untraceable.
That notion was proven recently when the federal government arrested Ross Ulbricht, who was the man behind the Silk Road website, which served as a trafficking center for illicit goods of all kinds. During the arrest, the government seized 29,665 bitcoins from Ulbricht, and the U.S. Attorney's office recently announced it has plans to auction them off. At current market prices, the bitcoins are worth a total of approximately $25 million.
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