Historical Hockey Memorabilia Auction Winter 2017
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/8/2017
Who says lightning only strikes the same place once? We here at Classic Auctions are pleased to be able to offer for a second time, an item seldom made available to the collecting community. This is the actual gold medal won by Ed Belfour while representing Canada at the nineteenth winter Olympiad in Salt Lake City in 2002. Despite enduring a half century of drought, the 2002 Canadian Olympic men’s hockey team was led by the off-ice presence of Wayne Gretzky, who for the first time was responsible for taking a leadership-roll from a managerial position as the executive director. Wayne embarked on a unique approach, embracing a unified team goal both with the “Commit To Gold” coins distributed to players, along with his now-famous motivational speech that elevated the national team to a monumental victory. Manufactured by O. C. Tanner and designed by Scott Given, the 567 gram medal has been fashioned to resemble rocks found in host state Utah’s many streams and river beds. Unique in design, this was the first time in Olympic history that the medals designed would vary for each sport. Featuring a centralized image of a generic athlete bursting through flames with torch in hand, it’s anchored by the Olympic rings in the lower portion along with the official 2002 theme “Light the Fire Within”, etched into the left side. The reverse includes an encircled image of the Greek goddess of victory Nike, holding a small leaf symbolic of the olive wreaths originally given to victors of the ancient games. Within the central portion is an image of ice hockey, encompassed by “Salt Lake City 2002” and “Men’s Ice Hockey”. With an 85mm diameter and 10mm thickness, the medal comes in its original elegant display box. Solid wood construction with a rich dark finish, the display case features the Olympic rings on front in gold, with a personalized certificate mounted on the left side of the interior, and the medal on the right side, housed in a removable velvet mount. As previously mentioned, this is a rare opportunity to own an actual Olympic gold medal with a provenance just as impressive, with Hall of Fame goaltender Ed Belfour originally being presented with this unique medal for his important participation with the victorious Canadian men’s Olympic hockey team. A signed LOA from Ed Belfour will accompany.
The certificate that has been mounted into the medal’s display case has the Olympic rings at top with “Olympic Winter Games Salt Lake 2002”, along with “Ed Belfour” and “XIX Olympic Winter Games”. This is followed by the same text in French with the February 24th 2002 gold medal game date, as well as facsimile signature in the bottom section from the President of the Olympic Committee, and the President of the Organizing Committee. Regarding condition, the medal and presentation case remain in almost flawless condition, with just a few tiny issues. There is a minute scratch on the medal’s reverse, just above the head of the generic individual pictured, along with a tiny scuff on the obverse at the bottom, just beneath the first Olympic ring. We should also note a very slight odor to the medal’s ribbon and presentation box, most likely occurring during storage.
By clicking this button, you will IMMEDIATELY bid the amount selected.
By clicking this button, you will submit this amount as your MAXIMUM (absentee) bid. The auction software will place bids on your behalf up to this amount only as it is bid against competitively by other bidder(s).