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Scarce Winter Olympic Torch Sales at Auction | Nate D. Sanders

ByNate D Sanders

Top Winter Olympic Torch Sales

The Olympic torch relay was initiated in 1936 at the Berlin Olympics and is a symbol of the connection between the modern Olympics and the Olympics of Ancient Greece. Each year the flame begins in Greece and travels via relay to the host city using several torchbearers. The Olympic opening ceremony concludes with the final torchbearer lighting the Olympic cauldron, which remains lit for the duration of the Games. Here are some of our Winter Olympic torch sales highlights:

1968 Grenoble Winter Olympics

Over 1,100 athletes from 37 countries partook in the 1968 Winter Games in Grenoble France. The torch relay route this year included several sports arenas throughout France. About 5,000 torchbearers participated in the festivities with notable bearers including Olympic medalists Alain Calmat and Jean Vuarnet. We sold the one of these scarce torches for $178,500.

Copper torch from 1968 Olympics in Grenoble. Measures about 30 inches long with crenellations along the top of torch bowl. Torch contains one silver plate bearing the offical emlem of the Games and reads, "Xe Jeux Olympiques D'hiver Grenoble 1968".
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1994 Lillehammer Winter Olympics

The 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway featured a 60 inch torch, the longest Olympic torch yet. Some torchbearers this year were Stein Gruben, who skied down a 120 m jump holding a torch in his right hand, and Catherine Nottingnes, a blind cross-country skier. We realized $27,000 for one of these rare Lillehammer torches.

1994 Lillehammer Olympics torch. Birchwood and aluminum/ copper torch measures about 60 inches long. Aluminum blade at the top of torch has the Lillehammer Olympic emblem at base.
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1988 Calgary Winter Olympics

The 1988 Olympic winter torch was created to replicate the Calgary Tower and its handle was crafted from Canadian maple wood. Torchbearers this year included sprint hurdler Stelios Bisbas and Robyn Perry, a 12 year old figure skater from Alberta. We sold a 1988 Olympic torch for $15,000.

1988 Calgary Winter Olympics torch. A nearly two foot long torch consisting of a maple wood handle with small engraved images of winter sports. An aluminum bowl sits at the top and is engraved with the text "XV Olympic Winter Games / Calgary Alberta Canada / 1988'' in both English and French.
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2014 Sochi Winter Olympics

The silver and red torch from the 2014 Games in Sochi was designed to resemble a bird’s feather. The torch relay involved about 250 people in Greece and about 14,000 in Russia. Some torchbearers this year were Olympic figure skater Irina Rodnina and ice hockey medalist Vladislav Tretiak. We realized $3,438 for one of these torches.

2014 Sochi Olympics torch . 37 inch long torch featuring an aluminum wrap and inner red portion. Torch reads "Sochi.ru 2014" alongside an image of the Olympic games symbol.
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Thanks for stopping by to learn about some of our top Olympic torch sales! Please reach out if you have any questions or if you’d like a free appraisal for your Olympic memorabilia.