The Absolute Pinnacle of any Advanced Olympic Collection would be to possess the very 1st Gold Medal (50mm) awarded during the 1896 Olympiad in Athens, Greece.
VERSO AT RIGHT IS OF VERY RARE 1896 "GOLD" OLYMPIC WINNERS MEDAL
RARE 1896 FRONT OF "GOLD" MEDAL DEPICTING IMAGE OF THE GREEK GOD ZEUS - ONE OF ONLY 100 GOLD MEDALS ISSUED TO WINNING OLYMPIC ATHLETES
Above, from The Raleigh DeGeer Amyx Collection AKA The American Heritage Collection, is a Pristine example of a Gold Medal in its Original Red Leather Presentation Case – as presented to one of the Only 100 Gold Medalist. Yes, so Rare that only 100 were ever Minted. It is doubtful that 15 Olympic 1896-Gold Medals could even be accounted for today. A Pristine Example such as this is valued, by the experts, to be in the $40,000 plus range - if you can find one! Think about it!
THE REMARKABLE 1896 "PRINCETON BOYS" - GOLD MEDALISTS - FRANCIS LANE - HERB JAMISON - ROBERT GARRETT - A. TYLER
It is important to note that the Olympic Gold Medalists in 1896, were actually awarded a Sterling Silver Medal. Why, because the Powers to be found it inappropriate to present an amateur gold! Sounds rather like Victorian attitudes abounded in 1896. Accordingly, the Olympic winners were presented – Sterling Silver – the 2nd Place Olympians were then presented a Bronze Medal – with theThird-Place Winners receiving absolutely no Winners Medal at all.
1896 OLYMPIC LEGEND ROBERT GARRETT - GOLD MEDALIST IN BOTH THE DISCUS AND SHOT-PUT
Yes, there were Major Olympic Movement growing pains! But the Olympic Games were now on their way to being elevated into the consciousness of the Peoples of the World!
For many years, this Important 1896 Gold Winners Medal has been in the Collection of Raleigh DeGeer Amyx (a.k.a.) The American Heritage Collection. Soon Mr. Amyx is going to part with this Magnificent Piece. Another Noted Collector will find this Rarity in their Collection.
HISTORIAN & COLLECTOR - RALEIGH DEGEER AMYX -2010
For additional historical facts that may be of interest see: www.AmericanHeritage1.com
Raleigh DeGeer Amyx is an American historian and collector. His full biography can be read on his Wikipedia page.