RIAA Multi-Platinum combo album award for Metallica's self-titled album, Garage Inc., and S&M. The albums were released, respectively, Aug. 2, 1991, Dec. 7, 1998 and Nov. 10, 1999. This award celebrates 12x Multi-Platinum sales for their self-titled album, 5x Multi-Platinum for Garage Inc., and 4x Multi-Platinum sales for S&M.

Metallica (also known as the Black Album) featured the singles "Enter Sandman", "The Unforgiven", "Nothing Else Matters", "Wherever I May Roam", and "Sad but True". It reached #1 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart, the UK, and other countries. By 2012 it had gone 16x Multi-Platinum. Covers album Garage Inc. included "Turn The Page" and "Whiskey In The Jar" and would hit #2 on the Billboard album chart, eventually selling five million copies. S&M (standing for "Symphony and Metallica") was recorded live with the San Francisco Symphony conducted by Michael Kamen. By 2004 it was certified 5x Multi-Platinum.

Item Highlights:

• RIAA Multi-Platinum combo album sales award
• In VG condition
• Award made in 2000
• Presented to record label executive
• All original with manufacturer's sticker
• Award measures approx. 17" x 21-3/4"
• Known as a "RIAA bar hologram" award with a serial number hologram, they were made from 1998 to present
  
• Great collectors item for any Metallica fan

Detailed Item Description: This is an official three album RIAA Multi-Platinum award with unique artwork and details made in 2000, making it approx. 22 years old. It is presented to Greg Thompson, who was EVP and General Manager at Elektra, working with Metallica and other artists.

The award is in VG condition with only very minor mars on the frame and plexiglass. The backing is also original, complete with Ill Eagle manufacturer's sticker on its' back.

Notes on the condition of all vintage RIAA awards like this one: Please do not buy this item if you want a brand new piece of memorabilia. These are historical artifacts from the year they were produced. As a result they may show signs of wear. Frankly, if you see a 20 to 50-year-old award purported to be in 100% perfect condition, it might be too good to be true. After all, an antique should have "good" wear. If not, you might want to question the piece.

As to where they came from, they could have been displayed in record label offices, recording studios, artist manager's offices, radio stations, private collector's homes and yes, of course, possibly the artist's or songwriter's home. Typically, we don't know all the places they may have been over the years other than what we've stated in the description.