OLYMPIC MEDALS IN RR AUCTION SALE

Lot 3001: Athens 1896 Summer Olympics Participation Medal

Participation medal issued for the Athens 1896 Summer Olympics. Bronze, 50 mm, 58 gm, by W. Pittner, Austria. The front features a seated Nike holding a laurel wreath over a phoenix emerging from flames, with Acropolis in the background; the reverse bears a star surmounted above five lines of Greek legend set within a laurel wreath.

Lot 3002: Paris 1900 Summer Olympics Silvered Bronze Winner’s Medal

Winner’s medal issued for the Paris 1900 Summer Olympics. Silvered bronze, 42 mm x 60 mm, 57 gm, by Frederic Vernon, Paris. The front, inscribed “Republique Francaise, Exposition Universelle, Paris 1900,” features a winged goddess scattering laurels over the grounds of the Exposition; the reverse identifies the sport as shooting, “Concours de Tir, VIIme Concours National,” and depicts a victorious athlete upon a podium. Stamped “Bronze” on the edge.

Lot 3005: St. Louis 1904 Summer Olympics Participation Medal

Extremely rare participation medal issued for the St. Louis 1904 Summer Olympics. Copper, 40 mm, 30 gm, by Dieges & Clust, New York. The front, inscribed, “Olympic Games, St. Louis, USA, 1904,” features an idealized nude athlete mid-stride with a laurel branch in his hand; the reverse features the lengthy text, “1803, Universal Exposition Commemorating the Olympic Games, 1904, Physical Culture Department, Frederick J. V. Skiff, Director of Exhibits,” encircled by ivy leaves with the shield emblems of St. Louis, France, and USA. These medals were presented only to athletes and represent the rarest and most valuable of all Olympic participation medals.

Fewer than 700 athletes from twelve different countries competed in the 1904 Olympic Games, the smallest representation of nations in the history of the Olympics. The officials’ badges used the same design as this medal but had a loop on the top for a ribbon, while these athletes’ participation medals have an entirely plain edge.

Because the Olympics were held in conjunction with the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, these are also desired by World’s Fair collectors. Overall, this is a spectacular example of the most sought-after Olympic participation medal.

Lot 3013: Chamonix 1924 Winter Olympics Gold Winner’s Medal

Immensely desirable winner’s medal issued for the Chamonix 1924 Winter Olympics. Gilt silver, 55 mm, 75 gm, by Raoul Benard, Paris. The front features a victorious athlete holding ice skates and skis high in the air with the Alps in the background; the reverse is inscribed at length in French, “Chamonix Mont-Blanc Sports D’Hiver, 25 Janvier–5 Fevrier 1924, Organises par le Comite Olympique Francais sous le haut patronage du Comite International Olympique a l'occasion de la celebration de la VIII Olympiade [Chamonix Mont-Blanc Winter Sports, 25 January–5 February 1924, Organized by the French Olympic Committee under the patronage of the International Olympic Committee on the occasion of the celebration of the VIII Olympiad].” Complete with official red leather presentation box.

The 1924 Chamonix Games were the very first Winter Olympics and sixteen nations were represented. Only 294 athletes participated, making any Chamonix medal very rare—first place winner’s medals are, of course, the most desirable. According to the official medal count, only 33 first place gold winner’s medals were awarded.

Lot 3032: Berlin 1936 Summer Olympics Participation Medal

Participation medal issued for the Berlin 1936 Summer Olympics. Brown bronze, 70 mm, 114 gm, by Otto Placzek. The front depicts five athletes, representing the five continents, pulling the ropes of the Olympic bell, with raised text, “XI Olympiade, Berlin, 1936”; the reverse bears the Olympic Bell embossed with the German eagle gripping the Olympic rings within five concentric circles, the name of the designer on the outer edge.

Lot 3042: Melbourne 1956 Summer Olympics Gold Winner’s Medal

Winner’s medal issued for the Melbourne 1956 Summer Olympics. Gilt silver, 51 mm, 69 gm, by Giuseppe Cassioli. The front, inscribed, “XVIth Olympiad, Melbourne, 1956,” features a ‘Seated Victory’ with the Coliseum in the background; the reverse portrays a winner carried by jubilant athletes. This prize medal design had been adopted for the Amsterdam Games in 1928, with the only alteration for 1956 being a change in wording to reflect the year and location. There were 280 of these gold medals produced, with 273 of them being awarded.

Lot 3049: Tokyo 1964 Summer Olympics Participation Medal

Participation medal issued for the Tokyo 1964 Summer Olympics. Copper, 61 mm, 118 gm, by Taro Okamoto/Kazumitsu Tanaka. The front features three runners and a swimmer placed on an olive branch; the reverse bears the Olympic rings dividing raised Japanese and English text, “XVIII Olympiad, Tokyo 1964.” Complete with its original special wooden box.

Lot 3059: Mexico City 1968 Summer Olympics Participation Medal

Participation medal issued for the Mexico City 1968 Summer Olympics. Copper, 50 mm x 50 mm, 116 gm, by Lance Wyman. The front depicts various Olympic sport pictograms and the Mexico City Games emblem; the reverse is engraved between two parallel lines, “Juegos de la XIX Olimpiada.”

Lot 3068: Lake Placid 1980 Winter Olympics Participation Medal

Participation medal issued for the Lake Placid 1980 Winter Olympics. Nickel-silver, 76 mm, 202 gm, by Marcel Jovine/Neil Kennedy. The front depicts modern relief views of the nine winter sports; the reverse bears the Lake Placid Games emblem encircled by the raised words of the Olympic oath in four concentric circles. Complete with its original blue box.

Lot 3078: Los Angeles 1984 Summer Olympics Gold Winner’s Medal

Winner’s medal issued for the Los Angeles 1984 Summer Olympics. Gilt silver, 63.5 mm, 142.5 gm, by Dugald Stermer, Indianapolis. The front, inscribed, “XXIII Olympiad, Los Angeles 1984,” features a ‘Seated Victory’ with the Colosseum in the background; the reverse portrays a victorious athlete being carried by a jubilant crowd. Complete with original magenta, vermillion, and yellow ribbon. Only 478 of these gold medals were produced for the LA Games. A scarce, attractive medal from this memorable USA-hosted Olympiad.

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Olympic Memorabilia Lots Preview (www.rrauction.com/preview_gallery.cfm?Category=0)

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