Among the lots, which are from the collection of Raleigh DeGeer Amyx, a member of the International Society of Olympic Historians and The Olympin Collectors Club, is the London 1908 silver medal awarded to British men's singles rackets player Henry Leaf.

The rare medal, approximately 33 millimetres in diameter and weighs about 19 grams, was designed by Bertram Mackennal and comes complete with its original leather and gilt presentation case.

One side of the detailed raised relief medal features two young women crowning an athlete with a laurel wreath with "Olympic Games London 1908" in raised letters, with the reverse showing St George slaying a dragon as a goddess looks on.

The presentation case is also embossed on the top in gold and reads: "Olympic Games, Second Prize, Racquets Singles, London 1908".

Henry Leaf's London 1908 silver medal is up for auction ©RR Auction




An "incredibly rare" Garmisch-Partenkirchen 1936 Winter Olympics bronze medal is also among the highlights at the auction, although it is not known who won it. 

The medal, approximately 100mm in diameter, ranges from 4mm to 5mm in thickness and weighs approximately 298g, was minted and struck by Deschler and Sohn of Munich and designed by Richard Klein.

One side features a figure in a chariot holding a wreath and illustrating winter sports equipment below, with the artist's initials along the right side, while the reverse shows the Olympic Rings and "IV Olympische, Winterspiele 1936", in raised letters around the edge.

Only 755 athletes competed in these Games, with a total of only 36 gold, 36 silver and 36 bronze medals minted.

"This example is one of the two largest Olympic winners medals ever awarded," Bobby Livingston, executive vice-president of RR Auction said.

"A truly significant offering."

The 1976 Winter Olympic gold medal presented to the Soviet Union’s Nikolai Kruglov for the biathlon relay is set to be auctioned in Boston next week ©RR Auction

The gold medal won by Nikolay Kruglov in the biathlon relay at the Innsbruck 1976 Winter
Olympic is also up for auction.

He was one of the four members of the Soviet team that claimed the 4x7.5 kilometres title in a time of 1 hour 57min 55.64sec - more than three minutes faster than second placed Finland.

This medal is one of only 71 issued in Innsbruck as only some 1,123 athletes competed at those Games.

The collection also features various medals, official pins, badges and souvenirs, many of which are from the earliest Olympic Games of the 20th century.

The live auction is due to take place next Wednesday and Thursday (September 17 and 18) at the Omni Parker House, 60 School Street, Boston, MA 02108, and a free public preview will take place on Monday and Tuesday (September 15 and 16).

More information can be found here. 

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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