Giant gold coin, Marilyn X-ray, Jackson's glove star in weekend auctions
- June 28, 2010 14:26
A wide range of collectibles performed strongly at auctions worldwide over the weekend. One hot lot was the world's largest gold coin, weighing 220 lbs., which fetched $4 million (3,270,000 euros) at Dorotheum in Vienna.
The Canadian Maple Leaf coin quadrupled its face value of almost $1 million because of high gold prices in the current world market, according to the auction house. The buyer was ORO DIRECT, a Spanish precious metal company.
Twentieth-century celebrity memorabilia piqued buyers' interests, too. A 1954 X-ray of Marilyn Monroe's chest was sold for $45,000 by Julien's Auctions at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.
Julien's Auctions also brought in almost $1 million for about 200 Michael Jackson-related items on the one year anniversary of his death. The pop music icon's Swarovski-crystal-studded glove, worn on his 1984 Victory Tour, reached $190,000 with a bid from Wanda Kelley, a fan from Los Angeles, according to the New York Times. The pre-sale estimate was $20,000-$30,000. His "Beat It" jacket sold for $132,000.