Tolkien's Lord of the Rings franchise is enormously popular, so it makes sense that many people would want to get their hands on the films' props. An unbelievable amount of work went into crafting and producing these magnificent works of art, and the props are simply second to none.
Luckily, the props are out there, circulating throughout society just waiting to be bought and collected. Unfortunately, they are wickedly expensive. Such is what occurs when purchasing pieces of movie history. These are ten of the most expensive props to come from the Lord of the Rings series, complete with prices.
King Elendil's Helmet ($12,800)
The movies don't go into detail regarding King Elendil, but his story is greatly expanded upon in the appendices and The Silmarillion. Essentially, Elendil was a Númenórean who came to Middle Earth after Sauron corrupted Númenor. He was the first High King of Gondor and Arnor, and he died fighting Sauron in the War of the Last Alliance. Elendil's distinct helmet was valued between $10,000 and $15,000 and was eventually sold for $12,800.
Sauron's Gauntlets ($25,000)
Sauron is only brief seen at the beginning of The Fellowship of the Ring, but he makes an indelible impression thanks to his size and armor. A signature part of his armor are the pointy metal gauntlets, which reportedly consists of more than thirty articulated pieces. The piece was valued between $25,000-50,000, and it eventually went home with a buyer for $25,000. The absolute lowest part of the estimate, but a hefty sum nevertheless.
Legolas's Knife ($25,000)
Legolas often utilizes a bow and arrow for offensive attacks, but he sometimes utilizes tiny knives for close combat. He held these white knives on his back on both sides of his quiver. The knives were just under two feet in length and were often used on set by Orlando Bloom, who would practice with them in his off time. The knife was valued between $20,000 and $30,000, eventually landing smack in the middle at $25,000 after ten bids.
The Shards Of Narsil ($25,600)
The shards of Narsil are an important part of Lord of the Rings lore. Narsil is the sword that was wielded by Elendil and Isildur during the War of the Last Alliance, and it was used to cut the ring from Sauron's hand.
Shortly before being cut with the sharp remnants, Sauron stepped on the sword and shattered it into pieces. The shards of Narsil were placed in Rivendell before being reforged as Andúril. The shard props sold at a Julien's auction for $25,600.
The Witch King Mask ($34,375)
Despite being a part of The Lord of the Rings from The Fellowship of the Ring, The Witch King of Angmar finally dons his famous steel mask in The Return of the King. As he couldn't be killed "by any man," this mask was mostly used for aesthetic purposes and to instill fear in those who he faced. That is, until Eowyn stabbed him through the hood and crumpled the mask to dust. The prop was sold at a Julien's auction after three bids for $34,375.
Sauron's Helmet ($41,600)
Sauron's gauntlets are certainly cool, but most people pay more attention to his threatening helmet. While Sauron's physical appearance is never really explained in the novel, Jackson gave him a horrible, elongated metal mask with tiny eye holes and sharp, crown-like protrusions. It's an instantly recognizable film prop. The prop was valued between $40,000 and $60,000 and generated four bids at a Julien's auction, eventually selling for $41,600.
Saruman's Staff ($50,000)
Saruman's staff is a brilliantly designed prop by the masters at Weta Workshop. The prop features a hand-blown glass ball "on a wood and resin staff and surrounded by resin flanges modeled after Saruman’s fortress Isengard."
The prop was valued between $40,000 and $60,000, and it ended up proving very popular. The staff received eight different bids and was eventually sold for $50,000, making it one of the most expensive props from the Julien's auction.
Sting ($162,500)
Sting obviously plays a very important role in The Lord of the Rings and is therefore quite expensive. Sting is the sword that is given to Frodo, and it glows a distinct blue when orcs are nearby. Due to its importance and craftsmanship, the sword prop was valued between $100,000 and $150,000. It obviously proved very popular at the Julien's auction, landing at an impressive and expectation-shattering $162,500 after thirteen bids.
Gimli's Axe ($187,500)
Perhaps surprisingly, Gimli's battle axe proved even more popular than Sting. According to the Julien's auction description, the axe is "extremely heavy and has been carefully crafted from metal and wood with a hand-woven leather grip and ornate detailing." The axe was valued at a relatively measly $50,000 and $70,000. However, the auction shattered all expectations, generating 25 bids and eventually landing at a greatly-inflated $187,500.
Andúril ($437,000)
Andúril is the Flame of the West, or the Sword That Was Reforged. It was reforged from the shards of Narsil, and Aragorn finally acquires the sword in The Return of the King. This prop sword is highly intricate, complete with Quenya inscriptions and a black leather grip in accordance with Tolkien's description. It was sold at a Bonhams auction in 2014 for an astounding $437,000, making it by far the most valuable prop from The Lord of the Rings.