Sarmie sells for $28 000

2004-11-23 20:56

Washington - A 10-year-old grilled cheese sandwich that bears the image of the Virgin Mary, according to the woman who made it, was sold for $28 000 after one of the most-bizarre bidding wars on the auction website, eBay.

The cheese sandwich had brought in offers as high as $99m before eBay officials called the seller and urged her to verify the bids to make sure they were legitimate.

As it turned out, most weren't. But the online casino GoldenPalace.com was serious about the sandwich and became its new owner with a bid of $28 000, the Miami Herald reported on Tuesday.

An executive for the online casino said the company was willing to spend "as much as it took" to own the sandwich.

Diana Duyser of Florida offered the sandwich.

Sparked a blitz of media attention

She took one bite out of it a decade ago before noticing the image and has left the sandwich sitting on her bedside table in a plastic container since then.

The unusual item also sparked a blitz of media attention with news stations across the country devoting extensive coverage.

"When I took a bite out of it, I saw a face looking up at me," Duyser said in her online posting.

"It was Virgin Mary staring back at me. I was in total shock."

Bids quickly jumped from $3 000 to eventually more than $99m.

But once eBay officials told the seller she should get in touch with the bidders to make sure they are serious, bid after bid was cancelled.

Not to be outdone, other eBay sellers jumped on the bandwagon and offered grilled cheese sandwiches with smiley faces and Elvis images.

One even offered ham with the sandwich.

- SAPA