Scientist Alexander Fleming discovered the mold could kill bacteria. — -- A mold sample may seem like an unlikely prize, but a sample of penicillin mold pulled in more than $14,000 when it ...

Photo: Alexander Fleming's photo of the dish with bacteria and Penicillin mold Alexander Fleming returned to his research laboratory at St. Mary's Hospital in London after World War I.

Alexander Fleming famously discovered the first antibiotic, penicillin, in 1928 while working at St Mary's Hospital Medical School, which is now part of Imperial College London.

This isn't the first time one of Fleming's mold samples has commanded a high price at auction. Bonhams sold another dried-up bit of penicillin mold in late 2016 for over $46,000 (£37,500, AU$61,000).

Fleming created the medallion as a gift for his niece and inscribed it with the message: "The mold that made penicillin / Alexander Fleming." ...

Well before his discovery of penicillin, Alexander Fleming was a member of the Chelsea Arts Club. Less well known is that he also painted with living organisms.

A capsule of the original penicillin mold from which Alexander Fleming made the drug known as penicillin. The mold was just auctioned for more than $14,000. Alastair Grant/AP.

"The mold that made penicillin, Alexander Fleming." The medallion once belonging to Fleming's niece will go on sale at Bonhams auction house in October . The listing estimates the piece will sell ...

A medallion containing some of the original mold involved in the discovery of penicillin is expected to fetch up to $50,000. ... "The mold that made penicillin / Alexander Fleming." ...