NEW YORK CITY — On Tuesday, July 25, Sotheby’s sold Tupac Shakur’s gold, ruby and diamond crown ring, designed and commissioned by Shakur in 1996, for $1,016,000, including buyer’s premium. The result makes it the most valuable Hip Hop artifact ever sold at auction and the only one to surpass $1 million. Sotheby’s identified the ring’s buyer as the Canadian rapper and songwriter, Drake.

Worn during Tupac’s final public appearance at the MTV Video Music Awards in 1996, the ring was on offer from Yaasmyn Fula, the artist’s godmother and lifelong supporter, who was one of Tupac’s most trusted advisors. An inscription “Pac & Dada 1996” is engraved on the band, referencing his engagement to sweetheart Kidada Jones.

Sitting atop a diamond-encrusted gold band is the “crown” itself: a gold circlet studded with the three largest jewels in the entire piece — a central cabochon ruby, flanked by two pavé-cut diamonds. Tupac’s selection of the ruby as the principal stone in his crown is a continuation of this royal narrative, as rubies have long been symbolically tied to the imagery of monarchy and wealth in our cultural imagination.

The sale was the third one dedicated to Hip Hop and celebrated its milestone 50-year anniversary. Nearly 120 lots were presented, and the auction achieved a total of $1,823,339. For additional information, www.sothebys.com.