With the close of the 2014-2015 NHL and NBA seasons, you may have just seen Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews hoist the Stanley Cup overhead or Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry showing off the Larry O’Brien Trophy. These trophies represent some of the greatest athletic successes in history.
But if you overlook the sentiment, the history, and the artistry, each trophy is just a chunk of metal.
Granted, professional sports trophies are worth way more than their melt value, but just out of curiosity let’s take a look at how much each trophy is actually worth.
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup has been around for a long time (since 1892 actually). Throughout the years, the cup has seen many transitions, with silver rings added to the base and winners names engraved into its sides. The current Stanley Cup stands at around 3 ft. and is 34.5 lbs.
Composition = Silver
Weight = 459.74 troy ounces
Melt Value = $7,392.62
Larry O’Brien Trophy
The Larry O’Brien Trophy is made every year by Tiffany & Co. at a cost of $13,500. The trophy is mostly made up of sterling silver, but also has a 24K gold sheet lain along its surface. Commissioned in 1977, this trophy stands 2 ft. tall and weighs 14.5 lbs.
Composition = Sterling Silver
Weight = 211.46 troy ounces
Melt Value = $2,610.27
Commissioner’s Trophy
Despite being one of America’s favorite pastimes, baseball did not have an official championship trophy until 1967. Even then, the trophy was nameless until in 1985 the Commissioner’s Trophy was dubbed. The trophy is made of mostly sterling silver but also features gold plating.
Composition = Sterling Silver
Weight = 450.11 troy ounces
Melt Value = $5,556.18
Vince Lombardi Trophy
The Vince Lombardi Trophy, originally named the World Professional Football Championship Trophy, was renamed in 1971 after the death of the famous Green Bay Packer’s head coach. The trophy is also made every year by Tiffany & Co. and takes 4 months to complete. The trophy is 7 lbs. and stands 22 in. tall.
Composition = Sterling Silver
Weight = 102.08 troy ounces
Melt Value = $1,260.08
FIFA World Cup Trophy
The FIFA World Cup Trophy surpasses all the other trophies in value with a wide margin. The cup consists of 18K gold with a base made of malachite. Engraved on the bottom of the cup are the winning teams for every World Cup Championship since 1974.
Composition = 18K Gold
Weight = 198.48 troy ounces
Melt Value = $178,676.66
When you think about what makes a trophy, it’s more than just silver and gold. It’s sweat, determination, and athletic tradition that give each trophy its true value.
If you’d like to learn more about melt values or other precious metal topics feel free to browse our blog or knowledge center.
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