In the throes of the Paris Games, we reflect on memorable Olympic auction items
05/08/2024 Collectors' Items
Olympics memorabilia tends to always attract attention in our auctions, whether commemorative coins, original posters or limited-edition time pieces, with avid collectors bidding for unique pieces.
For example, Cheffins has previously auctioned an original poster for the 1928 IX Summer Olympic Games, Amsterdam, designed by Joseph Rovers, which achieved £3,000 - more than its £1,500-2,500 catalogue estimate (pictured below), whilst an original poster for the 1968 Summer Olympic Games in Mexico, designed by Lance Wyman (1937-) sold for £420.
Commemorative coins and plaques are also of interest to collectors, and Cheffins has sold a variety – for example, from the USA 1984 Olympic Games, we auctioned a 27mm 10 dollars gold coin at a guide of £500-800, achieving £700, and three UK 2012 Olympic Games coins achieved a hammer price of £1,100. Furthermore, a 1928 Amsterdam Olympics bronzed metal plaque (pictured below), showing twelve reserves embossed with stylised Olympic events on the exterior border, sold for £280.00.
Over the years, the renowned watchmaker, Swatch has created a wide variety of Olympic themed time pieces and box sets, and Cheffins is offering a collection in our upcoming Art & Design auction in October, for anyone seeking a piece of Olympic memorabilia. These include a group of eight Swatch watches: Curling, 100 Year Olympic, London Olympics, Olympic Team GB, Coffee Break, Jess Rush, Crash!!!, Time to Move, together with an Olympic Legends boxed with a guide price of £200-400.
We also have a Limited Edition Swatch Centennial Olympic Games Collection For Honour and Glory boxed set, Atlanta 1996 presentation case containing nine wristwatches, for a guide of £100-150 (pictured below), and A 1996 Limited Edition Swatch Centennial Olympic Games Collection 'Olympic Legends' boxed set, from the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, comprising Said Aouita (chronograph), Gelindo Bordin (Pop), Sebastian Cole, Nadia Comaneci, Dan Jansen, Edwin Moses (automatic), Mark Spitz (Pop), Daley Thompson (Chronograph), Katarina Witt and Bob Beamon (pocket watch) with triangular folding display box. This lot carries an auction estimate of £100 – 200.
A Limited Edition Swatch Centennial Olympic Games Collection For Honour and Glory boxed set
Brett Tryner, Director at Cheffins, comments: “Olympics memorabilia can be particularly special, as a reminder of remarkable sporting achievements through history. Pieces are always popular when they feature in our auctions and the varying array of memorabilia appeals to a wide range of collectors.”