Incredibly impressive original prototype winner’s medal designed for the Garmisch 1936 Winter Olympics. Bronze, 100 mm, 335 gm, by Deschler & Sohn, Munich. This prototype example measures 5 mm thick, while the final production medals were 4 mm thick and weighed only 296.5 gm. The front, inscribed, “Garmisch-Partenkirchen,” features a female holding a victory wreath in an Olympic chariot, with winter sporting equipment depicted below; the reverse, inscribed, “IV Olympische Winterspiele 1936,” prominently displays the Olympic rings in the center. Complete with red leather presentation box, which remained unchanged for the final version. Only 755 athletes competed in these games, with a total of only 36 gold, 36 silver, and 36 bronze medals minted, making these medals extremely scarce in their own right. Designed by Richard Klein and minted by Deschler & Sohn, this prototype was authorized for production by the German Organisation Committee for Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The Garmisch medals were significantly larger than those issued for previous Olympic Games and are highly sought-after by collectors.
