Exceedingly rare winner's medal issued for a team shooting event at the London 1908 Olympics. Gold, 33.5 mm, 28 gm, designed by Bertram Mackennal, Birmingham; manufactured by Vaughton & Sons, England. The front, inscribed, "Olympic Games, London 1908," features a victorious athlete being crowned with a laurel wreath by two seated females; the reverse depicts St. George, the patron saint of England, slaying a dragon as a goddess looks on. Stamped on the edge with Vaughton mint marks and the event name: “Winner, Open Rifle Teams.” The necklace loop at the top was added at a later date.
Solid gold medals were awarded at only four Games—1900, 1904, 1908, and 1912—making this an especially appealing early Olympic piece. Furthermore, only one gold medal was awarded to the winning team; each individual team member received a silver medal. Team gold medals from 1908 are thus incredibly rare. Given that only 250 of these pure gold prizes were struck in 1908, this is a remarkable and exceptionally scarce winner's medal in tremendous condition.
