Gorgeous winner's medal issued to Hungarian footballer Kalman Ihasz at the Tokyo 1964 Summer Olympics. Gilt silver, 63 mm, 100 gm, by Toshikaka Koshiba (based on the classic design of Giuseppe Cassioli); manufactured by the Japanese Mint. The front is inscribed, "XVII Olympiad Tokyo 1964, Football," and features a 'Seated Victory' with the Colosseum in the background; the reverse depicts a victorious athlete being carried by several jubilant athletes. The medal is complete with its original ribbon with Olympic colors and its attractive black lacquer box, which features the emblem of the Games on the lid and one golden dot indicating first place; the box, which contains the medal’s small loop cover, bears some wear to the inner hinge.
Also included is Ihasz’s gold-plated competitor badge from the 1964 Tokyo Summer Olympics, 38 mm x 63 mm, 46 gm, which features the rising sun of the Japanese national flag above a green bar with Olympic rings and a blue enamel bar identified as “Competitor.” The badge’s solid green ribbon extends an additional 76 mm. The badge is accompanied by its original white leather presentation box.
This stunning gold winner’s medal represents the halcyon days of the Hungarian national football (soccer) team, a squad that revolutionized the sport in the 1950s with their tactical brand of Total Football, which led to their dominance on the international circuit. After placing third four years prior at the Rome Summer Games, Hungary traveled to Tokyo and earned their second gold medal finish by sweeping the field and ousting Czechoslovakia in the final match, 2-1. Hungary would win gold again in Mexico City and then take home silver at the 1972 Munich Olympiad, the latter marking their last Olympic podium finish. A brilliant first-place prize and competitor’s badge celebrating Hungary’s 20-year reign as football’s best team.
