This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/14/2024
The very first Winter Olympics were held in 1924 in the French Alps resort town of Chamonix with 16 countries represented and just 294 participating athletes in total. Presented here is a third-place bronze winner's medal (event and recipient unknown) from those important Games.
Measuring 55 mm in diameter (4 mm thick) and weighing 74 grams, this extraordinary piece of Olympic history was designed by Raoul Bénard. The obverse depicts a victorious athlete in the foreground holding ice skates and skis with the Alps in the distance. Inscribed on the reverse in raised lettering is the legend in French reading "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”. As a nice bonus, its original brown presentation case (EX condition), fully-functioning with a red velvet interior, is included. The medal itself has been preserved amazingly well for being a century old and displays in fantastic shape with only some minor edge wear to speak of.
This is just the second 1924 Chamonix winner’s medal of any kind (gold, silver or bronze) we have ever offered, indicating just how difficult it is to find one in the market.
This lot has a Reserve Price that has not been met.