Medal from first trendy Olympics dramatically exceeds estimate at public sale

A medal awarded on the first trendy Olympic Games smashed public sale estimates, promoting for about 4 instances its anticipated value at a Danish public sale home on March 1.

The silver medal from the 1896 Athens Olympics was hammered down for $179,920 excluding purchaser’s premium at Bruun Rasmussen Arts Auctioneers’ on-line sale.

The piece had been estimated to fetch between $31,100 to $31,600.

“We are absolutely thrilled about today’s result,” mentioned Christian Grundtvig, head of the cash and stamps division at Bruun Rasmussen.

“The Olympic medal represents a ‘unicorn’ amongst worldwide collectors – a uncommon fusion of Olympic and cultural historical past. This is a chunk of memorabilia of such extraordinary calibre that information of the sale has reached audiences worldwide.

“It is, without doubt, one of the most remarkable sales within the field of numismatics in the history of our auction house.”

Engraved by French artist Jules-Clement Chaplain, the medal options Zeus holding a globe topped by Nike, the Greek goddess of victory, brandishing an olive department.

The reverse reveals the Acropolis and Parthenon with a Greek inscription that interprets to International Olympic Games – Athens 1896.

The historic 1896 Games featured 241 athletes from 14 nations.

While the public sale home said that Viggo Jensen grew to become Denmark’s first Olympic weightlifting champion, they might not affirm whether or not the medal was awarded particularly for this achievement.