This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/24/2018
Featured here is a very special medal and pair of pins awarded to American rower Lloyd Butler for his efforts at the 1948 U.S. Olympic Trials and London Games. Butler and his crew of seven other Cal-Berkeley oarsmen were each issued this gold medal following their victory at the Olympic Trials held at Lake Carnegie, NJ, to earn their spot in London. The '48 Trials also served as that year's National Championship for rowing. Butler's same crew would go on to win gold in London.
The intricately-designed, gold-plated medal features a stylized rower surrounded by “NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AMATEUR OARSMEN” and the date “MDCCCLXXII.” The reverse has “1948 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP” and is engraved with “OLYMPIC TRIALS EIGHT OARED SHELLS” to denote the name of the team rowing event. Maker/minter "CALDWELL" and "XX" are stamped on the very bottom of the reverse. The medal is suspended form a red, white and blue ribbon with a pin-mounting device. The ribbon shows good wear, with the area near the ring mount fraying along with overall age toning. The medal (35mm and 22g) remains in exquisite condition with the gold plating still maintaining a lovely golden shine after 70 years.
The second piece is a United States Olympic Team lapel pin. The 5/8" x 5/8" brass pin has red, white and blue enamel shield motif with the Olympic rings. The back is hallmarked “SAM GRELLER TROPHIES CHICAGO” and features a pin mounting device. The pin shows some age with toning on the brass and some chipping to the enamel. A 1948 U.S. Olympics Rowing pin completes the set. The pin displays the same US Olympic Team shield logo as the lapel pin and has no manufacturer’s markings. The pin shows even wear with some slight rusting and tone overall. A very rare grouping from the personal collection of an Olympic Gold Medalist at the 1948 Games.
Includes LOA from the Butler family.