Rare winner’s medal issued for ice hockey at the Sapporo 1972 Winter Olympics. Bronze, 64 mm x 83 mm, 149 gm, designed by Kazumi Yagi and Ikko Tanaka and struck by the Mint Bureau of the Finance Ministry (Tokyo). The front features a vertical and raised curving line next to recessed concentric ovals, designs meant to denote a ski slalom trail and a speed skating stadium and to produce feelings of peace and security; the reverse features the embossed emblem of the XI Olympic Winter Games; and the attached upper plaque features a pictogram of a hockey player to the front, and the reverse features the name of the sport: “Ice Hockey.” The medal includes its original blue ribbon with Olympic stripes. Complete with its original blue velvet case (some toning to the inner lining), which contains its accompanying bronze medal winner’s pin. The men's ice hockey tournament of the Sapporo 1972 Winter Olympics was held at the Makomanai Ice Arena and at the Tsukisamu Indoor Skating Rink. For the third straight Winter Games. The Soviet Union team took gold for the third straight Winter Games, dominating the field with a record of 4-0-1, with the United States placing second and Czechoslovakia winning bronze. Our first example of the beautiful winner's medal from the 1972 Winter Olympics.
