Historic haberdashery: Napoleon's famed hat goes on auction block, battle stains and all

Napoleon expert Jean Claude Dey presents Napoleon's hat, from the Napoleonic collection of the Palais de Monaco, in Fontainebleau, south of Paris, France, Wednesday Nov. 12, 2014. The hat is part of the Napoleonic collection gathered by Prince Louis II, that will be put on sale Nov. 15 and Nov. 16 in Fontainbleau. More than 1,000 objects among which is Napoleon's hat, will be put on sale at this auction. Napoleon bicorn hat is on display next to the chateau where the general lived when he wasn’t leading troops into battle across Europe. The felt is a little weathered by age and use, though no one’s worn it since Napoleon’s veterinarian, who received from the French leader as a gift, but auctioneers are hoping to fetch 500,000 euros ($623,000) for it at the weekend auction. (AP Photo/Remy de la Mauviniere) (The Associated Press)

Napoleon expert Jean Claude Dey sets up Napoleon's hat, from the Napoleonic collection of the Palais de Monaco, in Fontainebleau, south of Paris, France, Wednesday Nov. 12, 2014. The hat is part of the Napoleonic collection gathered by Prince Louis II, that will be put on sale Nov. 15 and Nov. 16 in Fontainbleau. More than 1,000 objects among which is Napoleon's hat, will be put on sale at this auction. Napoleon bicorn hat is on display next to the chateau where the general lived when he wasn’t leading troops into battle across Europe. The felt is a little weathered by age and use, though no one’s worn it since Napoleon’s veterinarian, who received from the French leader as a gift, but auctioneers are hoping to fetch 500,000 euros ($623,000) for it at the weekend auction. (AP Photo/Remy de la Mauviniere) (The Associated Press)

A white marble bust of Napoleon Bonaparte, from the Napoleonic collection of the Palais de Monaco,is presented in Fontainebleau, south of Paris, France, Wednesday Nov. 12, 2014. The bust is part of the Napoleonic collection gathered by Prince Louis II, that will be put on sale Nov. 15 and Nov. 16 in Fontainbleau. More than 1,000 objects among them Napoleon's famous hat, will be put on sale at this auction. (AP Photo/Remy de la Mauviniere) (The Associated Press)

Napoleon Bonaparte's famous bicorn hat is up for auction and on display next to the chateau where the French general lived when he wasn't leading troops into battle across Europe.

The black felt is a little weathered by age and use, though no one's actually worn the hat since Napoleon's cavalry veterinarian, who received it from the leader as a gift.

Auctioneers are hoping to fetch 500,000 euros ($623,000) for the hat. It is part of a Napoleonic collection belonging to Monaco's royal family, which is distantly related to him.

Also for sale from the collection are dozens of medals, decorative keys, documents, a jeweled sword, a Russian caviar spoon and a bronze eagle that once perched atop a battle flag, complete with bullet holes.