The first Olympic gold medal awarded to a woman for speed skating: an extremely rare Squaw Valley 1960 Winter Olympic Games gold winner's prize medal
£35,000 - £45,000
The first Olympic gold medal awarded to a woman for speed skating: an extremely rare Squaw Valley 1960 Winter Olympic Games gold winner's prize medal awarded to Helga Haase representing the Unified Germany team in the women's 500m speed skating and believed to be the first 1960 Winter Olympic Games gold winner's medal ever to have been offered at public auction, in silver-gilt, 55mm. diameter, one of only 50 awarded for the 27 events held at the Games (including team disciplines and one tied event), struck by Herff Jones, the obverse with profiles of a young man and a woman symbolising the youth of America and the world, surrounded by the inscription VIII OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES, the reverse with Olympic Rings and inscribed with the Latin Olympic motto CITIUS, ALTIUS, FORTIUS , further inscribed with the sport PATINAGE [skating], in original fitted presentation box