Nation of Islam ring, hat fetch high prices but documents pulled from auction

ALPHA OMEGA ARTS
By Lauren Markoe
Elijah Muhammad’s 14-karat yellow gold ring with the Nation of Islam symbol was recently auctioned. Photo courtesy of Heritage Auctions, HA.com
DALLAS, Texas---A diamond-encrusted gold ring worn by Nation of Islam leader Elijah Muhammad sold for $5,250. His signature kofia, or hat, went for $32,500. But documents from the early years of the religious group, assigned a minimum bid of $250,000, were pulled from an auction last week after their ownership was challenged, the Dallas auction house overseeing the sale said Monday. The family of Burnsteen Sharrieff Muhammad, who served as secretary for Nation of Islam co-founder W.D. Fard, had guaranteed ownership of the ring, kofia and documents — 29 boxes of sermon notes and lesson plans from the first four decades of the religious group. [More]

Some of the Nation of Islam documents being auctioned. Photo courtesy of Heritage Auctions, HA.com