This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/8/2018
The 1956 Winter Games, officially the VII Winter Olympiad, were held in
Cortina D'Ampezzo in the Dolomite mountains of northeastern Italy. These were the
first Winter Olympics televised to a multi-national audience. There
were 32 competing countries, making it the largest number of
participating nations in a Winter Games to that point. A total of 819
athletes competed in 24 events across 4 sports. The Soviet Union made
its Winter Olympics debut and won more medals than any nation.
Presented
here is a stunning 1st place winner's gold medal, measuring 60 mm
in diameter and 4 mm thick and weighing 118 grams. It was designed by
Constantino Affer and minted by Lorioli Bros. Ltd. (Milan, Italy). The
obverse reads "VII GIOCHI OLIMPICI INVERNALI" ("Winter Olympic Games")
in raised lettering with "COST.AFFER" and "LORIOLI" inscribed; it features an idolized
head of a woman with the Olympic rings over her head and a flaming
torch at her left. The reverse has the Olympic motto "CITIUS ALTIUS
FORTIUS" (Latin for "Faster, Higher, Stronger") above and "CORTINA 1956"
below with a large ice crystal over Mt. Pomagagnon in the middle; "800"
is inscribed at lower right to denote the medals content of 80% pure
silver and 20% alloy. It is plated in gold as are all post-1912 first place winner's medals. The recipient and event are unknown as no
1956 Winter Olympic medals provided these details. This gleaming example has been extremely well-preserved and presents
beautifully in Mint condition. It is the first '56 Winter Gold we've ever had the pleasure of auctioning and certainly ranks as one of the finest in the market.