1980 "Miracle on Ice" Olympic Hockey Ring Presented to Mark Wells....

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Sold on Apr 22, 2011 for:

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1980 "Miracle on Ice" Olympic Hockey Ring Presented to Mark Wells. Three decades after the scrappy young USA hockey team shocked the Soviets and the world en route to the center podium at the Lake Placid Olympic Games, Heritage Auction Galleries dropped the gavel on a winning $310,700 bid for the Gold Medal awarded to center Mark Wells for his contributions to the victorious cause. The result made headlines across the nation and was briefly featured on the homepages of Yahoo, CNN and numerous other major sites, establishing the sale as the most publicized ever for an artifact of Olympic competition.

While we cannot expect equivalent fireworks for the lot offered here, this presentational ring should not pale in comparison to the Gold Medal result, but rather be illuminated by the glow. Just as the Gold Medal was the first Miracle specimen to be made available to the public, Wells' ring likewise marks the first of its kind to be placed upon the auction block. The ten karat yellow gold prize features five real diamonds set in a blue stone (small chip at lower right) on the face, encircled by raised text reading "USA Olympic Hockey Gold Medalist." Left shank holds Wells' surname and jersey number, framing the logos of the Lake Placid Games. The right shank features hockey iconography, the year "1980," and the final scores of the USSR semifinal and Finland final matches. The interior band is engraved with the scores and opponents in the earlier rounds of Olympic competition and a scripted "Miracle on Ice." Stamping of "Balfour 10K" is here as well. Band measures to a size ten. Flawless condition.