SCP Auctions, Inc.
Timed Auction

Mid Summer Classic Auction 2016

Tue, Mar 8, 2016 04:00PM EST - Sat, Aug 20, 2016 11:00PM EDT
Lot 1168

RARE 1976 INNSBRUCK WINTER OLYMPIC GAMES TORCH USED IN RELAY

Sold for
$24,259.20
Sold Price includes BP

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$200 $25
$500 $50
$1,000 $100
$3,000 $250
$5,000 $500
$10,000 $1,000
$20,000 $2,000
$30,000 $2,500
$50,000 $5,000
$100,000 $10,000
$200,000 $25,000
$500,000 $50,000
$1,000,000 $100,000
$1,500,000 $150,000
Presented here is a scarce 1976 Innsbruck Winter Olympic Games torch used in the relay. The flame for the XII Games of the Winter Olympiad was lit in Olympia Greece on January 30 1976 and traveled a total of 1618 km over five days before arriving at Innsbruck’s Bergisel Stadium. The opening ceremony featured the lighting of two cauldrons honoring both the current games and those the city hosted in 1964. The latter cauldron was lit by Austrian skier Christl Haas who became the first woman ever to light a cauldron for a Winter Olympics. Given that only one hundred of these torches were produced this is a heavily coveted torch for Olympic collectors.

Made of aluminum alloy and steel it measures 29″ long and 8.25″ at its widest point. Designed by Austrian metal company Vereinigte Metallwerke Ranshofen-Berndorf with a Nordi skiing motif the upper shaft is hexagonal and features a pair of Olympic rings in openwork with the curving metal strip extending from rings to platform to depict a ski jump. The rim of the platform is labeled “XII. Olympische Winterspiele Innsbruck 1976” with Olympic rings. The base of the handle is stamped with manufacturer “Berndorf”. The burner at the top shows significant combustion from carrying the flame. Very nice example of a difficult torch to find in the hobby. NM condition overall with moderate handling and scuffing. One recently sold at auction for just under $23000.

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