A rare gold medal from the 1904 Olympics in St. Louis has been sold at auction for $545,371 as part of a larger collection of memorabilia from previous Games.

This image provided by the Library of Congress, shows the athletics field at the 1904 Olympic games in St. Louis. The St. Louis Games were the first at which gold medals were awarded to winners, and they remain the only medals made entirely of gold. The first Olympic Games in the New World would produce a profound and permanent result," author and historian Carl Posy wrote years later, shaping every Olympic Games to come." GO FOR GOLDThe St. Louis Games were the first at which gold medals were awarded to winners, and they remain the only medals made entirely of gold. The outbreak of the Russo-Japanese War and the challenge in getting to St. Louis prevented many of the best European athletes from competing.

This image provided by the Library of Congress, shows Thomas Hicks competing in the marathon at the 1904 Olympic games in St. Louis. The marathon may be the single most memorable event from the 1904 Games. This story was transmitted from the 1904 Olympics on the day of the marathon. Note that Fred Lorz, who would later win the 1905 Boston Marathon, is identified in this report as Fred Lorg. Samuel Mellor was first at the halfway point, Newton second, Hicks third, and running easily.