A gold medal from the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, England was among the highlights of the July 21 sale by RR Auction.
The gold medal, which hammered down for $72,840 ($55,831.83 USD), was among 296 lots of Olympic memorabilia, including 44 participation medals, 19 winners’ medals and 31 torches.
This rare winner’s medal is actually struck in gilt silver (see “‘Gold’ Medals” below); it has an 85-mm diameter and a weight of 433 grams. Designed by David Watkins, the medal’s obverse features text across the top – “XXX Olympiad London 2012” – above the winged Nike over Panathinaikon Stadium and the Acropolis in the background. The medal’s reverse depicts the emblem of the London Games alongside an abstract linear background. According to auctioneers, any winner’s medals from “more recent” Olympic Games are “extremely scarce.” This is one of the first London 2012 gold medals to be publicly offered.
The medal features a design by David Watkins.
RR Auction didn’t publicize the incuse edge inscription as doing so could identify the medals’ recipient (although the auction house said the edge inscription has been disclosed to the winning bidder).
To view the results of the 2016 Olympic Memorabilia Auction, click here.