Julien's Auctions has listed the item amongst its internet exclusive Sports Legends Auction which is due to close on June 9, 2014.

According to the auction house, Anthony - who then 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.

That family member has now consigned the medal to Julien's Auctions with a provenance documentation set to be supplied to the winning bidder.

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

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.

The medal has currently received one bid and sits at $4,500 (£2,674/€3,301).

The auction house has estimated the medal will sell for between $9,000 (£5,347/€6,602) and $10,000 (£5,941/€7,336).

Carmelo Anthony is said to have been frustrated with the third place finish of the US basketball team at the 2004 Olympic Games leading him to hand his bronze medal to a family member ©Julien's Auctions



As well as Anthony's medal, the collection of items to be auctioned includes one of the world's largest and most comprehensive Muhammad Ali fight memorabilia collections, as well as other memorabilia from the likes of Michael Jordan, Babe Ruth, Jerry Rice, Wayne Gretzky, Pele and Andre Agassi.

Highlights from the Muhammad Ali Fight Memorabilia Collection feature items from virtually every stage of Ali's career including rare programmes and tickets from the 1959 Golden Gloves and 1960 Olympic Boxing Trials, items from the 1960 Rome Olympics where Ali, then named Cassius Clay, won the gold medal in the light heavyweight division, and on-site programmes, tickets and pennants from many of Ali's earliest and also most obscure fights.

To bid for the medal or any of the other items, click here. 

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