A Chamonix 1924 Winter Olympics gold medal has sold for $38,997 at RR Auction.
It led the online sale of a collection of Olympic medals and torches that closed on January 21.
 The inaugural Winter Olympics were held in Chamonix in 1924 |
The 1924 event was the inaugural Winter Olympics. A total of 16 nations competed in 16 competitions, including Nordic skiing and curling.
RR Auctions explains: "Only 294 athletes participated, making any Chamonix medal very rare - first place winner's medals are, of course, the most desirable.
"According to the official medal count, only 33 first place gold winner's medals were awarded."
Acclaimed French engraver Raoul Benard designed the medal, which displays an athlete holding ice skates and skis aloft.
A rare Calgary 1988 Winter Olympics torch was another big draw, realising $37,702.
It was designed to resemble the iconic Calgary Tower and is among the most desirable Olympic torches on the market.
The auction house comments: "After the lighting ceremony in Olympia, the flame was flown to Newfoundland. The torch traveled 18,000 km through Canada over 88 days.
"Unlike many relays, the torches were shared and thus only about one hundred were manufactured."
A torch from the Helsinki 1952 Games sold for a record £420,000 ($599,757) at Graham Budd last year.
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