The Toledo Museum of Art in Ohio recently sold nearly 70 antiquities from Egypt, Italy, and Cyprus for $1.2 million. New York auction house Christie’s said Thursday the total comes from live and online auctions this week. Egyptian officials earlier this week sought to stop the auction and wanted the items from Egypt returned there. Cyprus’ ambassador to the United States also hoped the museum would postpone the auction and reconsider keeping the items. But the museum’s director says many of the piece haven’t been displayed in decades and that money from the sale would go to buy new items and improve its collections.

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You can find the open letter of the museum concerning the sales here.