This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/24/2016
Featured here is a 1st Place Winner’s Olympic Gold Medal from the 1924 Paris Summer Games. Only 304 gold medals were minted (same number of silver and bronze), making it all the more special to be able to acquire one at auction. Designed by André Rivaud and minted by Paris Mint, it is made of gold-plated silver as were all post-1912 gold medals. It weighs 78 grams and measures 55mm in diameter and 3mm thick. The obverse shows a winning athlete helping a fallen athlete to stand, with “A.RIVAUD” engraved next to Olympic rings below. The reverse shows an array of sporting equipment surrounding “VIIeme OLYMPIADE PARIS 1924”. Stamped on rim is "2 ARGENT," the latter the French word for silver to denote its internal composition. Extremely well-preserved in both color and texture, the medal presents in Mint condition with very light wear. The gold plating retains its shiny glow. Comes with its original red presentation case—another rarity. The recipient and event are unknown. USA dominated the medal count with 99 total and 45 golds, with Finland a distant second at 37 total and 14 golds, respectively. To our knowledge, this is only the third example to surface with a major sports collectibles auctioneer, the other two selling for $29,290 and $19,120, respectively. What an extraordinary Olympic artifact to add to one's collection! The medal has been thoroughly inspected, tested and verified by Swiss professional jewelry expert, Jean-Jacques Mamie.