The lucrative allure of the double helix . James Watson , co - discoverer of DNA , to the Nobel Prize medal he won in 1962 . Watson , Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkins won for work on double helix structure . Auction will be the first time a Nobel Prize has been sold by a living recipient . Gold medal is expected to go under auction for $ 3 million to $ 3.5 million .
James Watson , co - discoverer of DNA , to the Nobel Prize medal he won in 1962 . Watson , Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkins won for work on double helix structure . Auction will be the first time a Nobel Prize has been sold by a living recipient . Gold medal is expected to go under auction for $ 3 million to $ 3.5 million .