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RR Auction: Olympics

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Lot 3102 - Lillehammer 1994 Winter Olympics Bronze Winner's Medal for Luge Winner's medal issued for the Lillehammer 1994 Winter Olympics. Bronze, 78 mm, 122 gm, by Ingjerd Hanevold; manufactured by Th. Marthinsen of Tonsberg. The medal contains a polished circular piece of 600 million-year-old sparagmite that was collected from the Lillehammer Olympic Park during the construction of the Lysgardsbakkene Ski Jumping Arena. The front of the medal features the Olympic rings in bronze, with the bronze ice crystal design and the interior stone engraved, “Lillehammer ‘94” and “The XVII Olympic Winter Games”; the reverse retains the ice crystal design and includes the Lillehammer Games emblem with a large pictogram of a luge athlete, inscribed on the inset stone and rim: “Luge - Double Men.” The rim is stamped with the initials of the designer and mint, and the medal bears slight scuffing and lacks its ribbon. According to designer Ingjerd Hanevold, she intended the medals to be ‘humorous, sober, and recognizable’ and stated that their design is 'Norwegian through and through.’ Her choice of sparagmite was in keeping with the guiding principles behind the Lillehammer Games as a means of presenting Norway’s genuine natural surroundings and increasing national environmental awareness. ‘The medals symbolize the very essence of Norway, the Norwegian mountain landscape. The stone also serves a symbolic function; it reminds us of how precious our earth and nature are, and how important it is that we protect them.’

Estim. 13 500 - 15 000 USD

Lot 3104 - Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics Gold Winner's Medal for Taekwondo Winner's medal from the Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics awarded to Cuban martial artist Ángel Matos, who placed first in the men's taekwondo (80 kg) competition. Gilt silver, 68 mm, 193 gm, by Wojciech Pietranik and Brian Thompson; manufactured by the Royal Australian Mint. The front depicts a 'Seated Victory' with the Colosseum in the background; the reverse portrays the Olympic rings over the iconic Sydney Opera House, with the Sydney Olympic torch at right, and sport and category engraved in the upper and lower rim, “Taekwondo” and “Men’s Under 80 KG.” Complete with the original blue ribbon embroidered in silver with the legend, "Sydney 2000,” and the original round case with metal base and hinged plastic cover. Medal bears some slight discoloration to the front, and the reverse bears a small area of gilt loss above the engraved sport. Cuban martial artist Angel Matos holds a lofty, if not controversial, position within the annals of Olympic competition. One of the world’s most talented taekwondo practitioners in the 80 kg weight class, Matos earned a gold medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney with a convincing string of victories, culminating with a 3-1 defeat of Germany's Faissal Ebnoutalib in the championship round. Although Matos was unable to place at the 2004 Athens Games, he returned to the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and fought his way to the bronze medal match. Matos injured his foot during the bout and requested a Kyeshi, a one-minute injury time-out. When Matos didn’t return to the ring center or ask for more time, the Olympic referee ruled that Matos, who was leading the match 3-2, had retired, and that his opponent, Kazakhstan's Arman Chilmanov, was the winner. Matos, in a moment of madness, kicked the referee, an action that resulted in his lifetime ban from the World Taekwondo Federation and the International Olympic Committee.

Estim. 45 000 - 50 000 USD

Lot 3108 - Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics Silver Winner's Medal for Baseball Marvelous winner’s medal for the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics. Silver with inlaid jade, 70 mm, 186 gm, by Medal Design Group, China Central Academy of Fine Arts, Elena Votsi. Created from ancient Chinese jade patterns, the medal consists of silver and jade, symbolizing nobility and virtue. Jade has been regarded as a virtue since ancient times, and the embodiment of Chinese traditional values of ethics and honor. The front depicts the standing goddess of Victory against panoramic imagery of the Panathinaikos Arena, with the text above reading: “XXIX Olympiad Beijing 2008”; and the reverse features the Beijing Games emblem surrounded by inlaid jade and the outer circle engraved with the sport, “Baseball.” The design inspiration of the medal hook derives from jade ‘Huang,’ a ceremonial jade piece decorated with a double dragon pattern, and ‘Pu,’ the reed mat pattern. Includes the original red-and-orange ribbon. Held at the Wukesong Baseball Field between August 13-23, the baseball tournament of the 2008 Beijing Games consisted of a preliminary round-robin format—all eight teams playing each other once—and single elimination rounds featuring the top four countries. South Korea was a dominant force throughout the Olympics, going 7-0 in preliminaries en route to staying undefeated and winning the gold medal. The silver medal team from Cuba was nearly as impressive, finishing 7-2, with both losses coming at the hands of South Korea. The 2008 Games were the last to feature baseball or softball as an Olympic sport; however, following a 2016 IOC vote, baseball would again be conducted for the 2020 Games. A rare and beautiful Olympic medal from the historic Beijing Olympiad.

Estim. 12 000 - 15 000 USD

Lot 3110 - London 2012 Summer Olympics Gold Winner's Medal, Awarded to a Team USA Runner Rare winner's medal awarded to a track and field athlete for her victory in the women's 4 × 400 metres relay race at the London 2012 Summer Olympics. Gilt silver, 85 mm, 430 gm, by David Watkins. The front of the medal features text across the top, "XXX Olympiad London 2012," above the winged Nike over Panathinaikon Stadium with the Acropolis in the background; the reverse features the emblem of the London Games against an abstract linear background. The event, “Athletics, Women's, 4 x 400m Relay,” is engraved along the bottom edge of the medal. Includes its purple ribbon with "London 2012" and the Olympic rings embroidered in white. Includes the original information card and black winner’s medal case, which is heavily scuffed and worn (as typical for this issue), and missing its form-fitting velvet liner. Additionally includes the associated Team USA "Gold Medalist" ring. This sought-after winner’s medal was awarded to a member of Team USA's women's track team for their performance in the women's 4 × 400 metres relay, which saw DeeDee Trotter, Allyson Felix, Francena McCorory, and Sanya Richards-Ross win convincingly in the final, finishing at a world-leading 3:16.87 pace. Keisha Baker and Diamond Dixon were also awarded gold medals for running in the qualifying heat, in which Team USA also took first. The accompanying "London 2012 Victory Medal" card explains the symbolism of the winner's medal: "The medal's circular form is a metaphor for the world. The front of the medal depicts the same imagery as at all the Summer Games - the Greek Goddess of Victory Nike stepping out of the Parthenon to arrive in the Host City. The reverse features five symbolic elements: A curved background represents a bowl similar to the design of an amphitheatre...an architectural expression and a metaphor for the modern city. It is deliberately jewel-like...The grid suggests both a pulling together and a sense of outreach - an image of radiating energy representing the efforts of the winning athletes...The River Thames in the background is a recognisable symbol of London. It also suggests a fluttering ribbon, adding a sense of celebration...The square is the final balancing motif of the design, opposing the overall circularity of the design, emphasising its focus on the centre and reinforcing the sense of 'place' as in a map inset."

Estim. 40 000 - 50 000 USD

Lot 3111 - Rio 2016 Summer Olympics Silver Winner's Medal for Wrestling Rare winner's medal awarded to Cuban wrestler Yasmany Lugo for the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics. Silver, 85 mm, 495 gm, produced by the Brazilian Mint. The front features stylized laurel leaves—an ancient Greek symbol of victory—surrounding the Rio 2016 Olympic logo; the reverse features a traditional portrait of Nike, the Greek goddess of victory, over Panathenaic Stadium with the Acropolis in the background, inscribed above, "XXXI Olimpiada Rio 2016." The bottom edge is engraved with the name of the event: "Wrestling / Men's Greco-Roman 98kg." Complete with its colorful original ribbon, and housed in an official wooden presentation case, engraved on the lid with the logo of the Rio Games. The medal exhibits a few minor scuffs and a substantial ding to the lower edge. Accompanied by a glossy 6 x 4 photo of Lugo wrestling, signed in black felt tip. As the first Olympiad to take place in South America, the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics sought to emphasize sustainability as a key element of its platform. The medals awarded to winning athletes embodied this goal, and were constructed using sustainable and recycled materials: the gold was certified as being mercury-free; about 30% of the silver for the medals was derived from leftover mirrors, solder, and X-ray plates; and the ribbons have a composition of 50% recycled plastic bottles. The Brazilian Mint produced 2,488 medals in total—812 golds, 812 silvers, and 864 bronzes.

Estim. 20 000 - 25 000 USD

Lot 3112 - Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics Silver Winner's Medal for Cycling with Case Rare silver winner’s medal awarded to Ukrainian track cyclist Olena Starikova for the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics. Silver, 86 mm, 550 gm, by Junichi Kawanishi. The front of the medal features text across the top, “Games of the XXXII Olympiad Tokyo 2020,” above the Olympic rings and a winged Nike flying over Panathinaikon Stadium with the Acropolis in the background; the reverse features the emblem of the Tokyo Games set against a ‘polished stone’ background with surrounding curved lines that represent different patterns of light and the energy of the athletes and their supporters. The bottom edge of the medal is engraved with the event: “Cycling, Women's Sprint." Retains its original multicolored ribbon, which bears traditional Japanese design motifs found in ichimatsu moyo (harmonized chequered patterns) and kasane no irome (traditional kimono layering techniques) in a modern format. Complete with its original wooden presentation case with magnetic lid. Olena Starikova represented Ukraine in track cycling at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, competing in the women's sprint and keirin events held at the Izu Velodrome, August 6-8th, 2021. Demonstrating impressive speed and determination, Starikova advanced to the later rounds in both competitions, earning this silver medal for her second-place finish in the women's sprint finals. One of Europe's most decorated women cyclists, Starikova placed on the podium in ten different European Championship events between 2018 and 2022. Winner's medals from recent Olympics are difficult to obtain and ever-popular among collectors—this is the first silver Tokyo winner's medal that we have offered at auction, and the finest of any type we have encountered.

Estim. 30 000 - 35 000 USD

Lot 3145 - Calgary 1988 Winter Olympics Collection of (24) Participation and Commemorative Medals Impressive collection of 24 medals issued for the Calgary 1988 Winter Olympics, including: Ten (10) bronze participation medals, each 64 mm, 133 gm, by Cornelius Martens, with the front depicting the Calgary Games emblem and raised French and English text, and the reverse bearing a panoramic view of Calgary, the Saddledome Stadium, and the Canadian Rocky Mountains, with the Olympic motto below; the reverse of each bear either an affixed protective foam swatch or remnants of the said swatch. Each medal includes its brown velvet case, and all but one are accompanied by their original Jostens paper slipcase. Four (4) limited edition gold-tone ‘host city’ commemorative medals, numbered 8, 65, 68, and 85 of 100 issued, each 64 mm, 133 gm, with the Calgary emblem to the front with raised text: “Calgary ‘88, Host City, Ville Hote,” and the reverse bearing the Calgary coat of arms in relief; the reverse of each bear either an affixed protective foam swatch or remnants of the said swatch. Each includes its original brown velvet case, with Jostens slipcase and edition booklet. Ten (10) bronze volunteer participation medals, each 63 mm, 136 gm, with the front featuring the Calgary Games emblem and raised French and English text, and the reverse bearing a mountainside with Olympic buildings and raised text: “Team ‘88—Equipe 88, Calgary.” Each includes its original gray presentation case with Jostens slipcase, and all but three contain their original booklet. In overall fine condition, with some wear and stains to the cases and slipcases.

Estim. 2 500 - 5 000 USD

Lot 3159 - Summer and Winter Participation Medals (3) - St. Moritz 1928, Melbourne 1956, and Rome 1960 Attractive set of three participation medals from the historic summer and winter Olympic Games held in St. Moritz (1928), Melbourne (1956), and Rome (1960). St. Moritz 1928 Winter Olympics Participation medal issued for the St. Moritz 1928 Winter Olympics. Bronze, 37 mm, 22 gm, by Milo Martin. The front depicts the goddess Victory holding a laurel branch in a horse-drawn sled, with mountains rising in the background and the Olympic rings below; the reverse bears raised text, "II Jeux Olympiques D'hiver St. Moritz 1928," over a laurel branch. A fine example of this small Olympic medal. Melbourne 1956 Summer Olympics Participation medal issued for the Melbourne 1956 Summer Olympics. Bronze, 63 mm, 105 gm, by Andor Meszaros. The front depicts the Olympic motto encircled by pairs of athletes following the march of a flag-bearer; the reverse bears the Melbourne coat of arms and Olympic rings, with raised text along the top, "Olympic Games Melbourne, 1956." Rome 1960 Summer Olympics Participation medal issued for the Rome 1960 Summer Olympics. Bronze, 55 mm, 79 gm, by Emilio Greco. The front features a nude female torchbearer superimposed over Olympic rings; the reverse bears a convocation of eagles soaring high above the Olympic stadium, with raised Italian text encircling the edge. Some sections bear slight hints of verdigris patina, a common condition for these medals.

Estim. 400 - 600 USD

Lot 3161 - Summer Olympics Collection of (19) Diplomas Impressive collection of 19 official Olympic diplomas covering 16 different Summer Olympiads and over 100 years of international competition. The diplomas, which contain five medalist examples and range in size from 11.5 x 16.75 to 21.5 x 29.25, are issued for the following Olympic Games: Paris 1900 (12.75 x 19.75), St. Louis 1904 (22.25 x 18.25), London 1908 (unissued; 17 x 11.75), Stockholm 1912 (11 x 18.25), Paris 1924 (19.5 x 25.25), Amsterdam 1928 (21.5 x 29.25), Los Angeles 1932 (19.25 x 14), London 1948 (2nd place; 22.75 x 17.5), Helsinki 1952 (14 x 19.75), Melbourne 1956 (2nd place; 23 x 17.5), Rome 1960 (3rd place; 24.5 x 18.25), Tokyo 1964 (15.25 x 15.25), Mexico City 1968 (4 posters, each 12.25 x 12.25), Moscow 1980 (11.5 x 16.75), Seoul 1988 (3rd place; 12.5 x 14.25, with folder), and Beijing 2008 (2nd place; 18 x 13.75). Several diplomas are signed by notable Olympic committee officials, and a few examples (Stockholm, 1924 Paris, Rome, and Los Angeles) are matted, mounted, or framed to slightly larger sizes. In overall fine condition, with instances of toning, edgewear, and folds, with tape-repaired tears to the 1908 poster. In overall fine condition. Accompanied several items related to Swedish wrestler Tor Nilsson, the recipient of the 1948 diploma, who won a silver medal in London in the heavyweight division. Of particular interest is Nilsson’s “Identity Card” for the XIV Olympiad, which bears an affixed photo of Nilsson and recognizes him as a “Competitor” in “Wrestling.”

Estim. 13 000 - 15 000 USD

Lot 3162 - Zappas 1889 Olympics Winner's Diploma Scarce partly-printed DS in Greek, one page, 18″ x 18″, June 1889. An official winner’s diploma from the Zappas Olympics of 1889, which was issued to influential Greek painter Georgios Roilos, “exhibitor of the Athenian municipality in Attika of Voiotia for...[his] distinguished portrait.” Signed in the lower right corner by the president of the Olympian committee, "A. Valetas." Mounted to an overall size of 24.75″ x 21.5″. In very good to fine condition, with scattered creasing and edgewear, including tears and paper loss, most significantly to the full extent of the left edge, which has been artistically restored with ink; the document’s bold lettering and beautiful engravings continue to shine brightly in spite of its 134-year-old age. Diplomas from the Zappas Olympics, important precursors to our modern games, are exceedingly rare and virtually unobtainable, this being the first and only example that we have ever offered. Georgios Roilos (1867-1928) was one of the most important and influential Greek painters of the late 19th-early 20th century. He belonged to the so-called ‘Munich School’ and his major works include historical topics, portraits, and scenes of everyday life. Sponsored by Evangelis Zappas (1800-1865), a Greek patriot, businessman, and philanthropist, the Zappas Olympics was a series of athletic events held in Athens designed to reintroduce a modern version of the ancient games into the nation of Greece. The first was held in 1859, while the other three—1870, 1875, and 1888—were held posthumously in Zappas’ honor. Although not an international event, the Zappas Olympics were significant to the Games of today, as the modern arrangement of gold, silver, and bronze medals serving as awards for first, second, and third prizes was established according to the original plan of the Zappas Olympics.

Estim. 15 000 - 20 000 USD