A gold medal from the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics realized $68,750 USD (more than $90,000 Cdn.), including buyer’s premium, at a recent auction hosted by the Boston-based firm RR Auction.
Designed by Omer Arbel and Corrine Hunt and struck by the Royal Canadian Mint, the gilt silver medal features embossed Olympic rings against a stylized background pattern inspired by orca pods on its front side.
The reverse depicts an Inukshuk – the emblem of the Vancouver Games – and is engraved in French and English, “XXI Olympic Winter Games.”
Only 615 medals were produced for that year’s Winter Olympics, which were held from Feb. 12-28. (Photo by RR Auction)
It lists the sport as “Freestyle Skiing Men’s,” the gold-medal winners from which include:
- Canada’s Alex Bilodeau (moguls);
- Belarus’ Alexei Grishin (aerials); and
- Switzerland’s Michael Schmid (ski cross).
It’s unknown at which of these three events this medal was awarded.
The 553-gram, 101-millimetre medal is accompanied by its original blue-green ribbon embroidered with the emblem, “Vancouver 2010,” and “With glowing hearts, des plus brillants exploits.”
The lot also includes the original medal pouch.
ONLY 615 MEDALS
The medal included its original ribbon and the lot was accompanied by the original medal pouch. (Photo by RR Auction)
With only 615 medals created for that year’s Olympics, this is believed to be the first time a Vancouver 2010 medal has been offered at a public auction.
“An altogether rare and remarkably appealing winner’s medal from the most successful Olympiad in Canadian history – the host country led all nations in gold medals with a tally of 14,” reads the auction catalogue.