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Splendid winner’s medal issued for the Cortina 1956 Winter Olympics. Gilt silver, 60 mm, 120.5 gm, by Constantino Affer, Milan. The front, inscribed, “VII Giochi Olimpici Invernali,” features the head of Victory crowned in Olympic rings with a torch to the right; the reverse, inscribed, “Citius Altius Fortius, Cortina 1956,” portrays an ice crystal over Mt. Pomagagnon. The hallmark, “800,” and proof stamp are present on right-center edge of reverse, with the designer name, “Cost/Affer,” visible to the left of Victory’s neck, and the mint on the right rim, “Lorioli.” In fine condition, with a professionally repaired necklace hole at the top edge.
Cortina d'Ampezzo was initially selected to host the fifth Winter Olympics in 1944, but the Games were canceled due to the onset of World War II. Awarded as a Winter host twelve years later, Cortina is best remembered for the debut of Soviet athletes in a Winter Olympiad, as well as for the first instance in which the Olympics were internationally televised. One of a total 51 first place prizes issued for the Cortina Games, this is an attractive and exceedingly scarce winner’s medal.
