Bidding Open for Olympic Collectible Auctions

(ATR) A rare badge for a figure skating judge at the first Winter Olympic Games in Chamonix and two 1936 Berlin gold medals highlight collectible news.

The wearer of the 1924 official’s badge offered by New England-based RR Auction could have witnessed Sonja Henie in her first Olympic performance. Only 11 years old, Henie finished last, but went on to win the next three gold medals. While Chamonix official’s badges are scarce, ones with ribbons are seldom seen. RR Auction calls the badge "an enormously desirable, exemplary piece of Olympic history."

With an estimate of $25,000-plus, the badge had reached $27,121 (plus an additional 22.5 percent buyer’s premium) a day before the end of the online auction.

The 165-item sale – which also includes many winner’s and participation medals, torches and badges -- closes Thursday night. Bidders before 6 p.m. are eligible to compete for their items at 7 p.m. when the "30-minute rule" goes into effect.

Berlin Gold

Ever since a Jesse Owens gold medal fetched a record $1.47 million at auction in December 2013, other 1936 gold medals have drawn increased attention.

"Antiques Roadshow," a popular television program on U.S. public broadcaster PBS, has included two of these medals in the last year.

Oliver Fortenberry kept his father’s Olympic gold medal under his bed when he saw a similar medal featured on the program.

Joe Fortenberry, a farm boy from Happy, Texas, was the U.S. team captain in the first Olympic basketball competition. He had a teammate named Carl Shy, whose nephew brought a 1936 gold to Antiques Roadshow in 2015. The medal had a hole drilled into it so Shy’s wife could wear it as a necklace, but was still appraised at $25,000-$35,000. It subsequently sold at auction for about $66,000.

Fortenberry decided to see what his medal was worth when the Roadshow came to Fort Worth, Texas, last July. Grant Zahajko, the same appraiser who saw the Shy medal, valued the Fortenberry medal at $100,000-$150,000 for auction, and $175,000 for insurance purposes.

Zahajko said this example was worth more than the previous medal because of its condition, complete with the original box, and the importance of Fortenberry to the sport. A writer from the New York Times credited the 6-foot-7 Fortenberry with the first dunk. In the gold-medal game, Fortenberry scored eight points as the United States defeated Canada 19-8 on an outdoor court in Berlin.

"I won’t sell the medal," his son told the Amarillo Globe-News. "I’m just the caretaker."

However, collectors can get their hands on another Berlin gold medal. It is for sale in the SCP Auctions Winter Premier Auction. This medal has no provenance. At the Berlin Games no medals were engraved with the name of the sport, which has become common practice at recent Olympic Games.

Online bidding began Jan. 4 and ends Saturday. At this time, bidding has reached $11,390, though the reserve has not been met. According to California-based SCP Auctions, "A total of 320 gold medals were minted (same number of bronze and silver), making any winner’s medal from Berlin a special treat for the hobby." It added that "the medal survives as an extraordinary Olympic artifact for the most esteemed collector."

Rio Items Popular

At the 2016 Rio Games, each athlete on the podium received a presentation gift in addition to a medal. The gifts – which were the same for gold, silver and bronze medal winners – were three-dimensional Rio logos on a green base. An unawarded example has reached $868 in the bidding and carries an estimate of $1,500-plus.

Meanwhile, a torch used in the relay is at $2,253, with an estimate of $3,000-plus. This torch was originally offered in the post-Rio online auctions set up by the organizing committee and has a display stand. It has been fitted with a piece of customized leatherette to commemorate track and field athlete Maurren Maggi. She also provides a signed certificate of authenticity.

Torches are Hot Properties

In the RR Auction, an Atlanta torch has already exceeded its $2,000-plus estimate with bidding up to $2,516.

Both RR Auction and SCP Auctions offer rare torches from the 1988 Calgary Olympic Games – which are popping up with more frequency since RR Auction fetched more than $40,000 with a torch last year.

RR Auction estimates its current torch is worth $40,000-plus. The torch shows signs of burning at the top and has a stand. It is currently at $18,626, while the unused SCP Auctions torch, complete with a torchbearer’s uniform, is at $10,717. The relay included thousands of torch-bearers, but they passed the torch – not the flame – and thus there are only 100-150 believed in existence.

A Sapporo torch, which is also supposedly one of about 100, is at $11,789 in the SCP auction, but has not hit its reserve.

There are only about two dozen Olympic items in the auction, which also includes sports such as baseball, football, golf and ice hockey.

A 1976 Innsbruck gold medal for bobsled (the name of the winner will be revealed to the winning bidder) is at $11,789 – also with an unmet reserve. A 1980 Moscow gold medal for track and field with its original case has met its reserve and is currently at $9,193.

A 1928 gold medal, the first with the popular design by Giuseppe Cassioli that was discontinued in 2004, is at $6,430 and has not met its reserve.

Game-worn Apparel

Two jackets worn by U.S. hockey player Bill Christian and a team jersey from the 1964 Innsbruck Games are among the items in the Goldin Auctions Winter Auction ending January 28. A hooded jacket from Squaw Valley in 1960 and an Innsbruck wool jacket each have a current bid of $375.

A 1980 Lake Placid hockey ticket signed by 18 members of the U.S. hockey team, including Jim Craig and Mike Eruzione, has no bids. Estimated at $1,000, the ticket is from Feb. 24, the day the U.S. beat Finland to win the gold medal, not from Feb. 22, the day of the "Miracle on Ice" in which Team USA upset the Soviet Union. Also, some collectors prefer tickets that have not been signed.

Written by Karen Rosen

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