Winner’s medal issued for the St. Moritz 1948 Winter Olympics. Silver, 60 mm, 103 gm, by Paul Andre Droz. The front depicts a hand holding the Olympic torch against a background with snowflakes and Olympic rings, with motto above, “Citius Altius Fortius”; the reverse features two raised snowflakes and the raised text, “Vmes Jeux Olympiques D’Hiver St. Moritz 1948.” The St. Moritz Games were the first to be celebrated following World War II, and were bestowed with the moniker, ‘The Games of Renewal.’ Due to their roles in the preceding war, both Japan and Germany were not invited to compete; they subsequently rejoined the Winter Games in 1952. A total of 123 athletes won medals at the 1948 Games, with 48 of those earning silver medals. Given the low quantity of struck winner’s medals, as well as the historical significance of the period, this example is of the utmost desirability.
