Parting with a piece of history…
During the recently completed 2012 Summer Olympics we got a little taste of what athletes are willing to do to get their hands on a gold medal. Badminton players were caught cheating and subsequently expelled from the games. A swimmer used an illegal kick during his gold medal winning race. Thanks to Grey Flannel Auctions you don’t have to resort to such tactics, or even participate in the Olympics, to get your hands on a gold medal. All you need a few thousand dollars.
This 1976 Olympic gold medal weighs 5.45 oz. with a 60 mm. diameter and a thickness of .50 cm. The gold-plated medal contains at least six grams of pure gold. It was presented to Walter Davis as a member of the 1976 USA Men’s Basketball team after they defeated Yugoslavia in the gold medal game on July 25, 1976. The verso shows the 1976 Olympic logo and the victor’s laurel wreath (symbol of the ancient Games), rendered in the bold, uncluttered style of the Montreal Games. The medal is in NRMT-MT condition and is accompanied by a LOA from Walter Davis.
During Team USA’s gold medal run Davis appeared in all six games, averaging 4.3 points and 2 assists.
Davis was selected 5th overall by Phoenix Suns in the 1977 NBA Draft. He was the league’s Rookie of the Year in 1978, made six All-Star teams, and was twice named to the All-NBA Second Team during a fifteen year career that also saw him spend time with the Denver Nuggets and Portland Trail Blazers. Davis retired with averages of 18.9 points, 3.8 assists, 3.0 rebounds, and shot 51% from the floor.
In Suns history Davis ranks second in games played (766), first in field goals (6,497), third in steals (1,040), and first in points (15,666). The franchise retired his #6 in 1994.
Bidding began at $10,000 and is currently at $12,000. The auction will end on September 7.
H/T PBT
