Julien's Auctions had listed the item amongst its internet exclusive Sports Legends Auction which closed last month. 

The bronze medal was won during the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, where the US beat Lithuania in the playoff .

According to the auction house, Anthony - who at that time played in the NBA for the Denver Nuggets but is now with the New York Knicks - was frustrated with the third place finish for the United States after they lost to eventual winners Argentina in the semi-finals, and gifted the medal to a family member after the Games.

The family member then consigned the medal to the California-based auction house with a provenance documentation which will be supplied to the winning bidder, whose identity is being kept a secret.

But Julien's did reveal that there were ten bidders. 

The medal is one of the first modern era US basketball Olympic medals to ever be sold at auction.

Carmelo Anthony (right), with the Olympic bronze medal from Athens 2004, he gave away to a family member, and which has now been sold for more than $14,000 at auction in California ©Getty Images



The front of the medal depicts the Greek goddess Nike, also known as the Winged Goddess of Victory, who personified victory, with Panathenaic Stadium in the background.

The back of the medal features the Olympic flame, the opening lines of Pindar's Eighth Olympic Ode, in Greek, and the Athens Games logo.

The medal is suspended by an "Athens 2004" Olympic Medal ribbon.

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May 2014: Exclusive: US Athens 2004 Olympic basketball bronze medal up for auction