New York, United States of America (USA)- Dmitry Muratov, editor of the Russian Novaya Gazeta newspaper which shutdown in March, has auctioned his Nobel medal for US$103.5 million.
Muratov, who was awarded the Nobel peace prize last year in October said he was inspired to auction the award by the Danish physicist Niels Bohr, who sold his medal to help civilian relief in Finland following the Soviet invasion of that country in 1939.
“We hope that this will serve as an example for other people like a flash mob, for other people to auction their valuable possessions, their heirlooms, to help refugees, Ukrainian refugees around the world,” said Muratov.
In addition, Muratov said it was important international sanctions levied against Russia do not prevent humanitarian aid, such as medicine for rare diseases and bone marrow transplants, from reaching those in need.
Muratov left Russia for Western Europe on Thursday to begin his trip to New York City, where live bidding began on Monday afternoon however, online bids began on 1 June to coincide with the International Children’s Day observance.
Josh Benesh, the chief strategy officer for Heritage Auctions said he was surprised by the bidding as it had been mainly cruising along with the increments of US$100 000 to US$200 000 when it suddenly spiked from US$16.6 million to US$103.5 million.
“I don’t think the object mattered. I think the object is a metaphor, it’s a symbol for something. It’s the opportunity to stand up and say this is a cause that has meaning and it’s a problem that a donation can begin to fix,” said Benesh.
The previous record for auctioning off a Nobel medal came in 2014, when the prize belonging to James Watson, who shared in the discovery of the double-helix structure of DNA, sold for US$4.1 million.
