Of all Olympic participation medals, this one from the 1904 St. Louis Summer Games is the scarcest and most coveted among collectors. The first Olympics in the Western Hemisphere was held in conjunction with the Universal Exposition Games (World’s Fair) commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Louisiana Purchase from Napoleon in 1803. It was not until later that they became officially referred to as the Games of the III Olympiad.
The festivities began April 30 and concluded December 1, with the main events taking place Aug. 29 through Sept. 3 in the city known as America’s Gateway to the West. An extended sports program lasted from July 1 to Nov. 23 during which professional Olympians and amateur athletes competed against each other in a series of meets and handicapped events (some amateurs were given head starts). Similar to the 1900 Paris Olympic Exposition Games, the organizers so underpromoted some competitions that many athletes never even knew they were participating in Olympic events. Completely overshadowed by the World’s Fair, only 554 athletes from 12 nations competed at the 1904 Summer Games, the smallest turnout ever for a Summer Olympics.
Comprised of bronze and cast by prestigious jeweler Dieges & Clust of New York, the octagonal-shaped medal weighs 30 grams and measures 40 mm in diameter with thickness of 3 mm. The obverse is inscribed “Olympic Games, Saint Louis, USA, 1904” with an idealized nude athlete mid-stride holding a laurel branch. The reverse has the lengthy text, “1803, Universal Exposition Commemorating the Olympic Games, 1904, Physical Culture Department, Frederick J. V. Skiff, Director of Exhibits,” surrounded by ivy leaves and the shield emblems of St. Louis, France and USA. This is the version issued to athletes. Officials’ badges used the same design, only with a loop on top for a ribbon. This example presents wonderfully in EF condition with light toning mostly on the extremities. Such a rare treat for Olympic and World’s Fair collectors when one of these surfaces at auction.