A Heritage Auctions representative who handled the sale could not confirm the buyer’s identity, but said the winning bid was made by proxy. The sale of 103.5 million dollars translates into 100 million Swiss francs, implying that the buyer is from abroad. The live auction took place on World Refugee Day. Previously, the highest paid medal for the Nobel Prize was $ 4.76 million in 2014, when James Watson, whose co-discovery of DNA structure won him the Nobel Prize in 1962, sold his own. Three years later, the family of his co-recipient, Francis Crick, received $ 2.27 million in a bid, also from Heritage Auctions. Muratov, who was awarded the gold medal in October 2021, helped found the independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta and was its editor-in-chief when it closed in March amid Kremlin-suppressed journalists and a public outcry over its aftermath. Russian invasion. of Ukraine. Muratov’s idea was to auction off his prize, having already announced that he would donate the accompanying $ 500,000 cash prize to charity. The idea of the donation, he said, “is to give refugee children a chance for a future.” Muratov said the proceeds would go directly to UNICEF in its efforts to help children displaced by the war in Ukraine. Once melted, the 175 grams of 23-carat gold contained in Muratov’s medal would be worth about $ 10,000. In an interview with the Associated Press before the auction, Muratov said he was particularly concerned about children orphaned by the conflict in Ukraine. “We want to return to their future,” he said. He added that it was important that international sanctions against Russia do not prevent humanitarian aid, such as medicines for rare diseases and bone marrow transplants, from reaching those in need. “The beginning of a flash mob should be used as an example for people to auction off their valuables to help Ukrainians,” Muratov said in a video released by Heritage Auctions, which managed the sale but did not gets no share of the revenue. . Muratov shared the Nobel Peace Prize last year with journalist Maria Resa from the Philippines. The two journalists, each receiving their own medals, were honored for their struggles to maintain freedom of speech in their respective countries, despite being attacked by harassment, their governments and even death threats. Muratov slammed Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the war that broke out in February, causing nearly 5 million Ukrainians to flee to other countries for security, creating Europe’s biggest humanitarian crisis since World War II. Freelance journalists in Russia have been brought under control by the Kremlin, if not clear goals of the government. Since Putin came to power more than two decades ago, nearly two dozen journalists have been killed, including at least four who worked for Muratov’s newspaper. In April, Muratov said he was attacked with red paint while riding a Russian train. Muratov left Russia for Western Europe on Thursday to begin his trip to New York, where live bidding began Monday afternoon. The online promotions started on June 1st to coincide with the celebration of International Children’s Day. Early Monday, the high bid was only $ 550,000. The purchase price was expected to rise, but perhaps not more than $ 100 million. “It’s a very personalized deal,” said Joshua Benesh, head of strategy at Heritage Auctions. “Not everyone in the world has a Nobel Prize at auction and not every day of the week there is a Nobel Prize that goes beyond the auction block.” Since its inception in 1901, there have been nearly 1,000 Nobel Prize winners honoring achievements in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature and the advancement of peace. The ongoing war and international humanitarian efforts to alleviate the suffering of those affected in Ukraine are sure to pique interest, Benesh said, adding that it was difficult to predict how much he would be willing to pay for the medal. “I think there will definitely be excitement on Monday,” Benesh said. “It is such a unique item that it is being sold under unique circumstances; an important act of generosity and such an important humanitarian crisis.” Muratov and Heritage officials said that even those who did not participate in the competition could still help by donating directly to UNICEF.
Associated Press writer Andrew Katell contributed to this report.
title: “Nobel Sold To Children From Ukraine Broke The Record At 103.5 Million Dollars " ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-13” author: “Stephen Riggs”
A Heritage Auctions representative who handled the sale could not confirm the buyer’s identity, but said the winning bid was made by proxy. The sale of 103.5 million dollars translates into 100 million Swiss francs, implying that the buyer is from abroad. “I hoped there would be a huge amount of solidarity, but I did not expect it to be so huge,” Muratov said in an interview following the nearly three-week auction bid that ended World Refugee Day. Previously, the highest paid for a Nobel medal was $ 4.76 million in 2014, when James Watson, whose co-discovery of the structure of DNA won him the Nobel Prize in 1962, sold his own. Three years later, the family of his co-recipient, Francis Crick, received $ 2.27 million in a bid also organized by Heritage Auctions. Muratov, who was awarded the gold medal in October 2021, helped found the independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta and was its editor-in-chief when it closed in March amid Kremlin-suppressed journalists and a public outcry over its aftermath. Russian invasion. of Ukraine. Muratov’s idea was to auction off his prize, having already announced that he would donate the accompanying $ 500,000 cash prize to charity. Muratov said the proceeds would go directly to UNICEF in its efforts to help children displaced by the war in Ukraine. Minutes after the end of the tender, UNICEF told the auction house that it had already received the funds. The online promotions started on June 1 to coincide with the celebration of International Children’s Day. Many offers were made by phone or online. The winning bid, made over the phone, launched the bid from the low millions to astronomical levels. Muratov had left Russia on Thursday to begin his trip to New York, where live bidding began Monday afternoon. Early Monday, the high bid was only $ 550,000. The purchase price was expected to rise – but not more than $ 100 million. “I can not believe it. I’m surprised. Personally, I’m surprised. I’m dumb. “I do not really know what happened there,” said Joshua Benesh, chief strategy officer at Heritage Auctions. “We knew there was huge interest in the last two days from people who were moved by Dimitry’s story, by Dimitry’s act of generosity, that the world audience was listening tonight,” he said. Muratov and Heritage officials said that even those who did not participate in the competition could still help by donating directly to UNICEF. Muratov shared the Nobel Peace Prize last year with journalist Maria Resa from the Philippines. The two journalists, each receiving their own medals, were honored for their struggles to maintain freedom of speech in their respective countries, despite being attacked by harassment, their governments and even death threats. Once melted, the 175 grams of 23-carat gold contained in Muratov’s medal would be worth about $ 10,000. Muratov slammed Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the war that broke out in February, causing nearly 5 million Ukrainians to flee to other countries for security, creating Europe’s biggest humanitarian crisis since World War II. Freelance journalists in Russia have been brought under control by the Kremlin, if not clear goals of the government. Since Putin came to power more than two decades ago, nearly two dozen journalists have been killed, including at least four who worked for Muratov’s newspaper. In April, Muratov said he was attacked with red paint while riding a Russian train. Since its inception in 1901, there have been nearly 1,000 Nobel Prize winners honoring achievements in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature and the advancement of peace. The Morning and Afternoon Newsletters are compiled by Globe editors, giving you a brief overview of the day’s most important headlines. Register today.
