Heritage World Coin Auctions
CSNS Signature Sale 3099 5-7 May 2022
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Greece
George I gold Specimen "Zappas Olympics" Class A Award Medal 1870 SP63 NGC, Paris mint, Gadoury/Vescovi-2. 41mm. 59.64gm. By Barre. An exceedingly scarce "Class A" Victor's Award medal which finds itself of the utmost rarity and importance, not only to numismatists and collectors of the Greek series, but also to collectors of historic sports memorabilia. Struck in gold for what would be known as the Zappas Olympics, a national event funded by philanthropist Evangelos Zappas, whose goal was to revitalize the Greek tradition of the Olympiad. Two varieties of these gold medals exist, both represented in this very sale; the Class B struck for second place, and Class A for first. The first of these athletic contests would take place in 1859 after petitioning Othon, King of Greece, where Zappas had proposed to sponsor the permanent revival of the games, even going so far as to reconstruct the ancient Panathenaic Stadium, which would host the 1870 and 1875 games for which this medal was struck. Ultimately Zappas' dream would be realized at that very stadium, where in 1896, the ancient city of Athens would host the first international Olympiad in a 125-year tradition.
Executed in immensely high relief, it is apparent the importance that was placed on not only these medals, but the games themselves, the organizers hoping to create a mold for what would ultimately be the modern international Olympics games. While of the same general design of the Class B specimen, the larger planchet for which this was struck upon lends itself to more successful composition and proportionality, the honeyed golden fields laden with die polish acting as negative space to elevate lavishly and carefully struck devices; the reverse finding itself especially dramatic. The current offering, of which we've only located 2 comparable examples of in recent memory, remains in a decidedly appreciable tier of preservation, careful scrutiny revealing only minor instances of handling and wisps that do little to detract from the medal's overall visual character. Certainly a great rarity and an offering that doubtlessly will be met with strong bidder enthusiasm.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/greece/greece-george-i-gold-specimen-zappas-olympics-class-a-award-medal-1870-sp63-ngc-/a/3099-30269.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-3099-05052022
HID02906262019
© 2022 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate: 80000-100000 USD
George I gold Specimen "Zappas Olympics" Class A Award Medal 1870 SP63 NGC, Paris mint, Gadoury/Vescovi-2. 41mm. 59.64gm. By Barre. An exceedingly scarce "Class A" Victor's Award medal which finds itself of the utmost rarity and importance, not only to numismatists and collectors of the Greek series, but also to collectors of historic sports memorabilia. Struck in gold for what would be known as the Zappas Olympics, a national event funded by philanthropist Evangelos Zappas, whose goal was to revitalize the Greek tradition of the Olympiad. Two varieties of these gold medals exist, both represented in this very sale; the Class B struck for second place, and Class A for first. The first of these athletic contests would take place in 1859 after petitioning Othon, King of Greece, where Zappas had proposed to sponsor the permanent revival of the games, even going so far as to reconstruct the ancient Panathenaic Stadium, which would host the 1870 and 1875 games for which this medal was struck. Ultimately Zappas' dream would be realized at that very stadium, where in 1896, the ancient city of Athens would host the first international Olympiad in a 125-year tradition.
Executed in immensely high relief, it is apparent the importance that was placed on not only these medals, but the games themselves, the organizers hoping to create a mold for what would ultimately be the modern international Olympics games. While of the same general design of the Class B specimen, the larger planchet for which this was struck upon lends itself to more successful composition and proportionality, the honeyed golden fields laden with die polish acting as negative space to elevate lavishly and carefully struck devices; the reverse finding itself especially dramatic. The current offering, of which we've only located 2 comparable examples of in recent memory, remains in a decidedly appreciable tier of preservation, careful scrutiny revealing only minor instances of handling and wisps that do little to detract from the medal's overall visual character. Certainly a great rarity and an offering that doubtlessly will be met with strong bidder enthusiasm.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/greece/greece-george-i-gold-specimen-zappas-olympics-class-a-award-medal-1870-sp63-ngc-/a/3099-30269.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-3099-05052022
HID02906262019
© 2022 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate: 80000-100000 USD