Cleopatra's Pearl Bet

Cleopatra famously bet Antony she could host an extravagant banquet worth 10 million sestertii, supposedly winning by dissolving a pearl in vinegar—a tale likely apocryphal. The peregrina pearl, a historical treasure, journeyed through royal hands for centuries, from Spanish emperors to Napoleon's family, before being auctioned in 1969, showcasing the fascinating legacy of pearls in history.