Unusual silver winner’s medal presentation case issued for the London 1908 Summer Olympics. The dark blue leather case, 2.75 x 2.75 x .75, manufactured by Vaughton & Sons of Birmingham, England, is marked on the top lid in gilt text: “Olympic Games, Second Prize, 7 Metre Yacht Race. London. 1908.”
This case was designed to hold a silver medal for the second place-finishing crew of the 7 Metre sailing event held at the Royal Victoria Yacht Club in Ryde on July 27 and 28. Only two Great British vessels registered for the regattas—Heroine and Mignonette—with the latter never appearing at the starting line. After two days of shortened single-round ‘matches,’ the four-man crew of Heroine, by default, was declared the first prize winners of the 7 Metre event.
Great Britain dominated the Games with a total of 146 medals, far eclipsing second and third place nations the United States (47) and Sweden (25); Great Britain's top finish in the Olympic medal table marks the only instance the country has done so in its history. From The Mason Dinehart Collection.
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