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Top Realized Prices of Summer Olympic Torches | Nate D. Sanders

ByNate D Sanders

To auction, sell or consign your Summer Olympic torch, please email your description and photos to [email protected] of Nate D. Sanders Auctions (NateDSanders.com).

The Olympic torch relay takes place during the opening ceremony and relays the Olympic flame from Olympia, Greece to the host city of the Olympic Games. The relay has occurred every year of Games since its inception in 1936. The longest distance the Olympic flame has needed to travel was 137,000 km for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China which included nearly 22,000 torchbearers.

Summer Olympic Torches Sold at Nate D. Sanders Auctions:

1936 Berlin Summer Olympics — Sold for $11,794

1936 was the first year the Olympic torch relay tradition began. Torchbearers this year included runners Konstantinos Kondylis and Fritz Schilgen. The stainless steel torch was designed by German sculptor Walter Lemcke and features engravings of an eagle and the cities the torch relay passed through. Today few of these torches remain as obtainable stainless steel was melted and utilized for WWII weapons. We sold one of these rare torches for $11,794.

Stainless steel torch from 1936 Olympics in Berlin stands nearly 11 inches tall with a circular top component. Handle features an engraved eagle holding the Olympic rings as well as the cities the torch traveled through.
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1960 Rome Summer Olympics — Sold for $4,933

The torch used in the 1960 Summer Games was crafted of aluminum then plated in bronze and its shape was inspired by the torches seen on ancient monuments. A notable torchbearer this year included Panagiotis Epitropopoulos, a Greek athlete who competed in this years men’s decathlon. We realized $4,933 for one of these torches housed in its original box.

1960 Rome Summer Olympics torch. Bronze color torch stands almost 16 inches tall and reads “Giochi della XVII Olympiade”.
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1948 London Summer Olympics — Sold for $4,867

The torch relay for the 1948 Summer Olympics in London consisted of a route that traveled through Greece, Italy, Switzerland, France, Luxembourg, Belgium and finally England. Torchbearers from Italy came from the army and the English torchbearers were selected from clubs associated with the County Amateur Athletic Associations. British track and field athlete was the final torchbearer who lit the cauldron. We sold a torch from the 1948 Summer Games for $4,867.

Stainless steel torch that stands 16 inches tall and reads “Olympia to London with thanks to the bearer XIVth Olympiad 1948" near the top from Summer 1948 Games in London. Handle is cylindrical with a flared bottom.
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1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympics — Sold for $3,049

The 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles consisted of 15,000 km torch relay beginning in Olympia, Greece that included over 3,600 torchbearers. Some notable torchbearers included Bill Thorpe Jr., son of the iconic Olympian Jim Thorpe, and decathlon gold medalist Rafer Johnson. We realized $3,049 for a 1984 Summer Olympic torch.

Bronze torch with grey leather wrapped around the handle from 1984 Olympics. Bowl of torch features the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Metal band around torch handle reads, ”Games of the XXXIIIrd Olympiad / Los Angeles 1984”.
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Thanks for stopping by to learn about some of our Summer Olympic Torches sales! Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you would like a free appraisal of Olympic memorabilia.