MORE ON 1992 BARCELONA OLYMPICS MEDALS

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V24 2021 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 24, Number 44, October 31, 2021, Article 7

"The Olympia Barcelona 1992 copper medal shown in the current E-Sylum (from a Swiss auction) may be the so-called Catalan version of the official participation medal (see attached photos of the official medal). The break on the obverse and reverse of the Catalan version presumably represents the desire of some residents of Catalonia to separate from Spain.

"The official medals are the same large size (70 mm, weight about 254 grams) and were presented in a maroon pouch (not a box) made of imitation leather. XC is the initials of the designer, Xavier Corbero."

The obverse reads AGRAÏM LA TEVA/ COL.LABORACIÓ/ COOB '92. COOB would be the abbreviated version, I guess, of Comitè de Organisació Olímpica de Barcelona (1992). In Spanish/Castilian, formally and officially, the COOB would apparently be rendered as COMITÉ ORGANIZADOR DE LOS JUEGOS DE LA XXV OLIMPIADA BARCELONA 1992. Barcelona was awarded the games in 1986, right after Spain entered the EU, and the Committee must have begun its activities shortly thereafter.

For the reverse, the inscription can be read and interpreted equally in Spanish (that is to say "Castilian", as Catalans prefer; they've informed me that as a language, the adjective "Spanish" does not exist) and Catalan, XXV/ OLIMPIADA/ BARCELONA 1992. Formally or technically, OLIMPIADA should be rendered as OLIMPÍADA, with the acute accent above the second I (as "Í"), but presumably they did not consider this to be crucial.

"We appreciate your/ cooperation/ Barcelona Olympic Organizing Committee" (COOB is the abbreviation for the Barcelona Olympic Organizing Committee) on the obverse and "25th/ Olympiad/ Barcelona 1992" on the reverse. The tiny "M" mark with a crown over it is the mark of the Madrid mint, the Casa de la Moneda (officially, in full, the Fábrica Nacional de Moneda y Timbre); the small "XC" mark is that of the artist's initials -- for Xavier Corberó, as already stated by Eric Holcomb.

This medal is apparently the official commemorative issue that was presented to volunteers who assisted in the preparation and coordination of the events. In all, there were 16 different commemorative medals for the games. They evidently share a very similar reverse design, that of the actual statement of the occasion, the name of the games. I am not sure which one is represented by Mr. Holcomb, but the commemorative/participation medals varied greatly in their obverse themes, it seems -- mostly images relating to the city of Barcelona, which undertook major transformations of itself through the entire project of hosting the games and has since become the principal tourist destination in all of Europe, I have read.

The central logo above the traditional five Olympic rings is supposed to represent a stylized human being as a dynamic figure in an athletic stance, designed by the Catalan artist Josep Maria Trias.

This medal from the auction was specifically distributed in appreciation to volunteers. As you are probably already well aware, the Olympic games always have several different official medals. The best known are the victors' award medals, the Gold, silver and bronze versions presented for first, second and third place standings in each of the athletic competition events. Then there are always commemorative and/or participation medals, which are much more variable.

"It is interesting to think that the "break" shown on the AGRAÏM (Catalan) side of the medal can be interpreted as an independentista sentiment. I doubt that Sr. Samaranch (who insisted upon being addressed as "Your excellency") was a supporter of the separatist movement, but who knows?!"

"I should have looked at the book first! Olympic Medals and Coins, 510 B.C. – 1994, by Victor Gadoury (published 1994), lists both versions of the medal along with the winners' medal. My version is described as the Official Medal of the Participants, Spanish version (mintage 40,000) whereas the other one is the Official Medal of the Participants, Catalan version (mintage 55,000). Although Gadoury doesn't say so, it's likely that the Catalan version was primarily awarded to volunteers rather than athletes and officials."