
A gold medal won at the 1904 Olympics, held in St. Louis, has sold for a staggering Rs 4.72 crore ($545,371) at an auction, according to the organizers of the sale. The 1904 Games were the first time the Olympics were held on American soil.
Design and Historical Significance
The medal has details on both sides. One side contains the words "Olympiad, 1904," combined with an image of a triumphant athlete holding a wreath. The reverse features the ancient Greek goddess of victory, Nike, standing beside Zeus in Greek mythology, the king of gods.
The gold medal was awarded to the first American athlete who emerged victorious in the 110-meter hurdles event. What is even more interesting is that the medal is still surrounded with its original ribbon and leather presentation box.
First Genuine Gold Medals Awarded
The 1904 Olympics marked the first time the Games issued real gold medals to the winners. Among the 96 gold medals that were distributed, 78 were won by American athletes.
Other Olympic Memorabilia Sold
In addition to the Olympic memorabilia listed above, the auction included medals from the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics, 1964 Tokyo Olympics, 1998 Nagano Olympics, and 2012 London Olympics.
An Olympic silver medal from the 1936 Berlin Olympics, won by German long jumper Luz Lang, fetched an astonishing Rs 42 crore ($488,000), reflecting the timelessness of Olympic collectibles.