A winner’s medal from the inaugural first Winter Olympic Games, held in 1924 in Chamonix, France, and a solid gold medal from the first FIFA World Cup Soccer competition in 1930 realized multiples of pre-auction estimates in a July 23 online sale of Olympic and FIFA memorabilia by RR Auction in Amherst, New Hampshire.

The 170-lot sale realized $982,796, which included the 7% buyer’s fee.

1924 Chamonix Games

The winner’s medal from the Chamonix Games realized $62,500 after an estimate of $15,000+.

Awarded during the first Winter Olympic Games, held Jan. 25 through Feb. 5, 1924, the medal was designed by French sculptor Raoul Benard.

Struck in gold-plated silver, the 55-millimeter medal depicts a victorious athlete raising a pair of ice skates and skis with the Alps in the background.

The reverse bears a detailed French inscription identifying the Games and noting they were organized by the French Olympic Committee under the patronage of the International Olympic Committee. The medal was offered at auction with its original black leather presentation case.

The Chamonix Games brought together athletes from 16 nations and featured 294 competitors. According to the official medal count, 33 first-place winner’s medals were awarded, making surviving examples among the rarest Olympic awards from the first Winter Games.

FIFA 1930

The gold presentation medal from the inaugural 1930 World Cup, held in Montevideo, Uruguay, presented to FIFA President Jules Rimet — the man whose vision created the World Cup — also had a pre-sale estimate of $15,000+, but realized $71,250.

The 24-gram, pure gold medal, measuring 22 millimeters by 36 millimeters, was presented in connection with the first FIFA World Championship, held in July 1930.

The obverse Art Deco design depicts a winged allegorical figure standing before radiating lines and the dates 1928–1930. The reverse features a wreath with engraved text: MONTEVIDEO / JULES RIMET / PRESIDENTE / JUILLET 1930, identifying the recipient.

The medal was accompanied by a signed letter of authenticity from Laura Franco Baich, director of the 1930 World Cup Museum in Montevideo.

Other medals

Other medals sold in the sale, their pre-sale estimates and their prices realized include:

First-place solid 27-gram, gold 33-millimeter medal awarded to American trap shooter Frank Hall at the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm. Awarded for a team event, the medal would typically have been of gilt silver medal per standard 1912 Olympic protocol. Estimated at $20,000+, it sold for  $46,506.

Antwerp 1920 Olympics gold winner’s medal for Tug of War, from the last Olympic tug-of-war competition. Awarded to a City of London policeman, in gilt silver, weighing 89 grams with a 60-millimeter diameter, its design is by Belgian sculptor Josuë Dupon. Estimated at $12,500, it realized $15,629.

Athens 1896 Olympics gilt bronze participation medal, estimated at $1,300+ realized $3,025.

The complete prices realized by lot listing are found online at www.rrauction.com/auctions/details/746-olympics.