A winner's prize medal from the first modern Olympic Games at Athens in 1896, designed by Jules Chaplain, signed, struck in silver for first place (se
£45,000 - £55,000
A winner's prize medal from the first modern Olympic Games at Athens in 1896, designed by Jules Chaplain, signed, struck in silver for first place (second place medals were bronze), the obverse with a portrait of Zeus with the globe in his right hand, upon which stands the goddess of victory, Nike, holding an olive branch, to the left in Greek the script reads OLYMPIA, the reverse with a representation of the Acropolis and Parthenon, the inscription translated from the Greek reads INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC GAMES, ATHENS, 1896; sold together with an original postcard showing the scene inside the Olympic Stadium during the Opening Ceremony (2) The original recipient of this victor's medal is unknown. It was acquired by the present vendor in Switzerland.