The violin played as the Titanic sank sells for $1.7 million

A violin from the Titanic that played while the ship sank sells for $1.7 million at auction.

From CNN:

According to survivors' accounts William Hartley's band played to calm passengers even as the ship sank beneath them.

The scene was depicted in James Cameron's blockbuster movie "Titanic," which depicted Hartley and his band playing "Nearer, My God, to Thee" as the ship took on water.

Hartley's body was reportedly pulled from the water days after the April 1912 sinking with his violin case still strapped to his back.

In 2006, the damaged violin was found in the attic of a home in Britain. It was authenticated through testing of salt water deposits, the auction house said. The violin was adorned with an engraved silver plate that connected it to Hartley.