It seems like the ultimate irony: a private collection of stellar contemporary works, all depicting the American dollar, comes to auction at the height of the art market boom (rumours are still swirling about who actually bought Les Femmes d’Alger by Picasso for $179.4m). But such a sale is due to take place this summer (1-2 July) at Sotheby’s London when an “important private European collection” based on the $ hits the block. A group of Warhol dollar paintings is a highlight of the “To the Bearer on Demand” sale, including the first painting in Andy’s bucks-based series, One Dollar Bill (Silver Certificate), 1962, estimated at £13m-£18m. Sotheby’s says in a self-reflexive statement: “As with his soup cans and Marilyns, Warhol’s dollars have become icons of our time. Today, they are more relevant than ever before, prophesising the cultural power of the US dollar and the elevated status of art as a commodity in its own right.” The pre-sale total estimate for the 21 consigned works —which also includes pieces by Keith Haring, Joseph Beuys and Tim Noble & Sue Webster—is £41m-£57m.