The Games of the IX Olympiad held in Amsterdam were the first to be officially called the “Summer” Olympics. Other firsts that have since become tradition included the lighting of the Olympic Cauldron, a 16-day event schedule, and the Parade of Nations at the Opening Ceremonies starting with Greece and ending with the host country—in this case, the Netherlands. Perhaps the most important first at the ’28 Games was the monumental step of adding Athletics (i.e. Track & Field) and Gymnastics to the women’s event table, sparking the largest increase in female competitors to date. A total of 46 nations competed at the ’28 Games encompassing 2,971 participants. In all, 254 gold medals, 258 silvers and 259 bronzes were minted.
Presented here is the 2nd Place Silver medal awarded to American Levi Casey for the Triple Jump (then known as the “Hop-Step-Jump”) at the 1928 Summer Olympics. The USA Track & Field star was a fixture at the top of various jumping events from the mid-1920s to the early 30s. Casey won three straight AAU titles beginning in 1926. His silver in Amsterdam made him the only American to reach the podium in the Triple Jump between 1906 and 1976. Fresh to the market, the medal comes directly from his granddaughter.
Made of high-quality gilt silver (the same internal composition as all 1st place gold medals after 1912), this 2nd place silver medal is designed by renowned Italian sculptor Giuseppe Cassioli. It measures 55 mm in diameter, 3 mm thick, and weighs 66 grams. The obverse features Nike, Goddess of Victory, seated above the stadium holding a winner's crown and palm branch with "IX OLYMPIADE AMSTERDAM 1928" scripted on the right. The reverse shows a winner carried by jubilant athletes. “ARG” (abbreviation for “Argento”, the Italian word for silver) is hallmarked on the top edge. Incredibly well-preserved in both color and texture, the medal remains in Very Fine condition with just a few faint scratches and no visible oxidation. This extraordinary Olympic medal is certainly a museum-worthy relic rarely made available to the collecting public. Since the winners are not marked, it is very tough to find one with documented provenance straight from the athlete’s family. Includes LOA from Levi Casey’s granddaughter.