BOSTON, MASS.- As the Olympic Games return to the world stage in 2026, RR Auction offers collectors a rare opportunity to own some of the earliest and most consequential symbols of athletic excellence with its Olympics Auction. Spanning the full sweep of modern Olympic history, the sale brings together exceptional winner’s medals and athlete-owned artifacts that capture the drama, pride, and permanence of the Games.

At the center of the auction is first-place medal from the 1896 Athens Olympic Games, the inaugural modern Olympiad. Awarded at a time when first-place finishers received silver—not gold—the medal represents the earliest surviving form of Olympic victory. From there, the auction moves forward through Winter and Summer Games of the 20th century, including medals from Lake Placid, Oslo, Los Angeles, and Tokyo, many preserved with original cases, diplomas, and direct athlete provenance.

Highlights from the Sale

Athens 1896 Olympics Silver “First Place” Winner’s Medal

Struck in silver and designed by French sculptor Jules-Clément Chaplain, this 50 mm medal weighs 67 grams and remains housed in its original red leather presentation case. The obverse depicts Zeus holding Nike, goddess of Victory; the reverse shows the Acropolis and Parthenon, inscribed in Greek. At the first modern Games, winners received silver medals and second place earned bronze—there was no third-place award. Any surviving winner’s medal from 1896 is rare; examples with original cases are rarer still. This medal stands as the earliest physical expression of Olympic triumph.

Oslo 1952 Winter Olympics Gold Winner’s Medal – Ice Hockey

Awarded to Canadian forward William “Billy” Gibson, this gilt-silver gold medal comes from Canada’s last Olympic hockey gold for nearly 50 years. Gibson led the Edmonton Mercurys in scoring at the Oslo Games, netting 15 goals in eight games. The medal is accompanied by a substantial group of Gibson’s personal Olympic material, including his participation medal, badges, pins, and a copy of his winner’s diploma. Only 48 gold medals were produced for the 1952 Winter Games, making this one of the rarest modern Olympic gold medals in private hands.

Lake Placid 1932 Winter Olympics Bronze Winner’s Medal – Frank Stack Collection

This historically intact group comes from the estate of Canadian speed skater Frank Stack, a three-time Olympian. The centerpiece is Stack’s bronze winner’s medal from the 10,000-meter speed skating event at the 1932 Lake Placid Games, accompanied by his participation medal, contestant badge, and three official Olympic diplomas. Fewer than 50 winner’s medals were struck for the Lake Placid Winter Games, due to the small field of competitors. The collection offers a rare, personal record from America’s first Winter Olympics.

Los Angeles 1932 Summer Olympics Gold Winner’s Medal

A gilt-silver gold medal from the Los Angeles Games, designed by Giuseppe Cassioli and issued by Whitehead & Hoag. The medal retains its original paper box, a survival seldom seen. With the Olympic Games set to return to Los Angeles in 2028, this medal carries renewed relevance as a symbol of the city’s early Olympic legacy.

Tokyo 1964 Summer Olympics Gold Winner’s Medal – Fencing

Issued for a fencing event at the Tokyo Games, this medal is complete with its original ribbon and black lacquer presentation case. The Tokyo Olympics marked Japan’s reintroduction to the global stage and signaled a new, modern era for the Games—an inflection point reflected in both design and context.

Also Featured: Olympic Flame Artifacts from Milano Cortina 2026

Also included in the auction are artifacts tied to one of the Olympic Games’ most enduring traditions: the Olympic flame. Highlights include an official Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic torch, known as Essential, and a ceremonial lighting bowl used during the sacred flame-lighting rituals at Ancient Olympia, Greece.

The torch reflects contemporary Italian design and sustainability-focused engineering, created to be reused and refilled during the relay and featuring an open-window design that reveals the internal flame mechanism. The accompanying Greek lekythos ceramic bowl was used during the official Olympic flame lighting ceremony, playing a role in the ceremonial transfer of the flame that ignited the relay.

“The Olympic flame is one of the most powerful symbols in global sport, and these pieces are directly connected to how that tradition begins,” said RR Auction Olympic specialist Bobby Eaton. “Originating from the Greek leg of the relay, the torch and ceremonial lighting bowl are among the earliest Milano Cortina 2026 artifacts to reach the collector market.”

The Olympics Auction is open January 20 through February 19, with bidding closing February 19.