1936 Berlin Olympics gold medal in auction
- Published: Apr 1, 2019, 4 AM
A rare gold medal from the 1936 Berlin Olympics is coming to auction.
The medal is available during Julien’s Auctions’ April 25 auction in Beverly Hills, California.
No provenance is available for this medal, the firm said.
Inside Coin World: Collector finds Chicago businessman’s lucky silver dollar giveaways: Responses to collector questions, market trends for the 1895-O Barber dime, and the impact of the first grading guide are all the focus of columns in the April 15 “Coin World.”
The 1936 Olympics are notable for the confluence of politics and athletics, as Germany showcased their society in an effort to promote their status as a “superior race.”
This resulted in images of American athlete Jesse Owens’ many victories conflicting with Leni Riefenstahl’s Triumph of the Will propaganda film.
The games’ “gold medals” are actually made of gilt silver, as the last truly gold medals were distributed for the 1912 Summer Games in Stockholm.
The medal features Victory seated above the stadium holding a palm branch on the obverse and a winning athlete carried by jubilant athletes on the reverse.
The rim is engraved B.H. MAYER PFORZHEIM 990, the Mayer company still existing today and making a huge mark in the numismatic community.
The 1936 gold medal measures 2.125 inches in diameter (54 millimeters).
It has an estimate $15,000 to $20,000 U.S.
For more details about the sale, visit the firm's website.
Connect with Coin World:
Sign up for our free eNewsletter
Access our Dealer Directory
Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Community Comments
-
World Coins Nov 1, 2024, 12 PM
2024 Swiss 25-franc coin inspired by classic design
-
US Coins Oct 31, 2024, 9 PM
November ceremony planned at Gobrecht grave in Pennsylvania
-
US Coins Oct 31, 2024, 2 PM
Proof 1975-S, No S dime sells for new record price
-
US Coins Oct 31, 2024, 12 PM
Week's Most Read: Flowing Hair medal sales