Rare 1968 Olympic torch sells for $91,451 at RR Auction
At RR Auction's Olympics sale on July 23, a unique 'Type 6' torch from the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, accompanied by its original Spanish relay medal, fetched $91,451. The Type 6 is among the rarest variations of the torch, developed following a safety redesign due to an explosion during a flame-transfer event in Barcelona. Its existence remained a mystery until researchers confirmed it nearly five decades later through photographs and archival materials. The Mexico City Games are notable for producing the highest number of torch variations in Olympic history, attributed to various technical challenges.
Key facts
- Rare Mexico City 1968 Olympic 'Type 6' torch sold for $91,451
- Torch accompanied by original Spanish torch relay participation medal
- Sale led RR Auction's Olympics sale, which closed July 23
- Type 6 is one of the rarest documented torch variations for 1968
- Developed after an explosion during flame-transfer ceremony in Barcelona
- Simplified design used during portions of relay in Spain
- Existence unknown until nearly 50 years after Games
- Authenticated by Olympic researchers through contemporary photographs and archival documentation
Entities
Institutions
- RR Auction
Locations
- Mexico City
- Barcelona
- Spain