Winner's medal issued for the Helsinki 1952 Summer Olympics. Gilt silver, 51 mm, 68 gm, by Giuseppe Cassioli. The front, inscribed, “XV Olympia, Helsinki, 1952,” features a ‘Seated Victory’ with the Colosseum in the background; the reverse portrays a winner carried by jubilant athletes. Factory marks on the edge, "916M" and "Y6," designate the silver content and mint. Complete with its rare original box, gilt-stamped on the lid with the Olympic rings; the box exhibits heavy wear and has a broken hinge, but has been housed in a custom acrylic hinged display case. While the gilt finish on the Helsinki gold medals is highly susceptible to wear, this example remains in better condition than all others we have handled. With just 320 of these first-place prize medals awarded at the Helsinki Games, this is an uncommon and highly attractive example.
