This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/15/2019
Splendid trio of Winter Olympics participation medals offered here. This is the first time we have listed any of these at auction. As a point of reference for the scarcity of the two early examples, there were 2,922 athletes from 92 nations that competed at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games.
1968 Grenoble: Made of bronze and designed by J.M. Coeffin. Diameter 68 mm. Weight 162 grams. Obverse features high relief Greek style head of an athlete with elaborate snowflakes in background; designer hallmarked at bottom. Reverse has Grenoble, France, cityscape surrounded by text "Xes Jeux Olympiques D'Hiver" and "Grenoble 1968". Rim hallmarked "1967" [year struck] and "Bronze". There were 1,158 participants from 37 nations at these Winter Games and an estimated 5,000 of these medals were minted. This is one of the largest of all participation medals ever struck. Presents NM.
1976 Innsbruck: Made of silvered bronze. Designed by W. Pichl. Diameter 50 mm. Weight 32 grams. Obverse has 1976 Innsbruck Games logo with Olympic rings and legend ("XII OLYMPISCHE WINTERSPIELE") around perimeter against decorative crystals background. Reverse (fairly tarnished) shows Bergisel ski jump with a city/landscape view of Innsbruck and Austrian Alps. There were 1,123 participants from 37 nations at these Winter Games and just 3,000 of these medals were minted. Presents VG-EX.
2002 Salt Lake City (Volunteer version): Made of bronze and designed by O.C. Tanner. Measures 40x72 mm. Weight 107 grams. Obverse shows legend ("XIX OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES - SALT LAKE 2002") at top; athlete with outstretched arm standing over a mountain with Olympic rings below. Reverse depicts the Delicate Arch inscribed “Light the fire within" with mountain range in background and Olympic rings and logo below. (Athlete version has different reverse design and larger dimensions.) There are the only rectangular shaped participation medals from either the Summer or Winter Games. Presents NM-MT.