Vol. 64, No. 6 (November-December 2013) 11

Olympic rings are held in the eagle’s talons. On the reverse near the base of the plaque, below the Olympic rings, there is a hallmark consisting of the letter T within a circle.

The Olympic Participant’s Table Medal prototype of the non-portable award for members of international youth clubs, was cast in bronze at the Berlin foundry of Hermann Noack. It was actually designed by the Berlin sculptor Otto Plascek who also designed some of the naval combat badges, such as the Blockade Runner Badge, Coastal Artillery Badge, the Minesweeper Badge, and the Submarine Hunter Badge. The Participant’s Table Medal is truly a one of the best representative pieces of numismatic artwork of its time, reminiscent of contemporary industrial art in the thirties and forties. Interestingly, the Participant’s Medal bears no swastika, as a result of Hitler’s initial directive that the games were to be completely free of political overtones due to international sensitivity and protests against Nazi Germany hosting the games. It is 7.0cm in diameter by 3.0mm and weighs 114 grams. The table medal was given to all the participants and is very striking with its greenish patina. Although fewer than 4,000 were awarded, a total 20,000 were produced at the four Berlin foundries of Noack & Martin, Heintze & Barth, Sperlich, and Pilzing.

Figure 20: Obverse of the Olympic Participant’s Table Medal within its presentation box.

The obverse (Figure 20) consists of five partially-nude male athletes, with their left feet on a step in the lower right quadrant of the medal and with their arms outstretched. These athletes represent the five continents and in unison they are pulling on ropes to ring the Olympic Bell. To the right of each group of poles is XI OLYMPIADE BERLIN. The reverse (Figure 21) has the Berlin Olympic Bell within four concentric circles. On the outermost circle at the four o’clock position is the

Figure 21: Reverse of the Olympic Participant’s Table Medal.

designer and artist’s name, OTTO PLASCEK. The German Olympic Eagle perched on the five Olympic rings is centered on the bell. Around the rim of the bell is the inscription ICH GRÜSSE DIE JUGEND DER WELT (“I greet the youth of the world”). The medal was awarded in a red, circular box with a white base with a representation of the reverse of the medal centered on the top of the case (Figure 22).

Figure 22: The lid of the red paper case for the Olympic Participants Medal.

The Olympic Boy Scout Table Medal (Figures 23 and 24) is a smaller version of the Olympic Participant Table Medal, except that it bears a small swastika in the center of the eagle on the reverse. A rare non-portable award, it was given to members of international youth clubs, such as the Boy Scouts, who assisted during the games. It is 3.75cm in diameter and 3.0mm in thickness. Although the same design as its larger counterpart, it lacks the artistic detail on the face and figure of the athlete on the obverse.

12 JOMSA

Figure 23: Obverse of the Olympic Boy Scout Table Medal.

Figure 24: Reverse of the Olympic Boy Scout Table Medal.

Figure 25: Obverse of the silver Souvenir Attendee Medal in its presentation box.

The Souvenir Attendee Medals were minted in both silver and bronze. The silver variety (Figure 25 and 26) has BAYER. HAUPTMUNZAMPT.FEINSILBER (“Bavarian Central Mint fine silver”) stamped on the rim. The bronze medal (Figures 27 and 28) has BAYER. HAUPTMUNZZAMPT (Bavarian Central Mint) stamped on the rim. The silver medal comes in a square, white box reminiscent of the Olympic Game Medal with a

Figure 26: Reverse of the silver Souvenir Attendee Medal.

Figure 27: Obverse of the bronze Souvenir Attendee Medal in its presentation box.

Figure 28: Reverse of the bronze Souvenir Attendee Medal.

navy-blue pressed-felt interior (Figure 29). The box is 5.0cm and has a single gold line inset 0.5mm from the

Vol. 64, No. 6 (November-December 2013) 13

edge forming a square on the lid with the date 1936 and the Olympic rings in gold, centered within the square. On the base of the box is the word SILBER in black. The box for the bronze version (Figure 30) is the same size as the box for the silver medal, but tan colored with a tan interior felt. There is nothing printed on the base of the box.

Figure 29: The presentation box for the silver Souvenir Attendee Medal.

Figure 30: The presentation box for the bronze Souvenir Attendee Medal.

It has been 76 years since the crowds cheered, athletic records were broken and the winners stood on the podium giving the Nazi salute during the XI Olympiad. Nevertheless, people haven’t forgotten what took place and in fact more books have been written recent years than ever before. The medals that Germany minted and

awarded are tangible historical artifacts of an interesting time. It is hoped that this article will assist collectors in not only obtaining and understanding these fascinating pieces of history, but in purchasing genuine examples.

Acknowledgement: My sincerest thanks to Tom Yanacek for his help with the translations from German to English.

BibliographyLunsden, Robin. Medals and Decorations of Hitler’s Germany.

Osceola: MBI Publishing Company, 2001.Niemann, Detleve. Berwetungs-Katalog Deutschland 1871 – 1945

No. 3. Hamburg: Niemann Verlag, 2008Schapp, Jeremy. Triumph: the Untold Story of Jessie Owens and

Hitler’s Olympics. Boston: Mariner Books, 2008.Yanacek, Thomas M. Parade Medal Bars of the Third Reich. Atglen:

Schiffer Military History, 2008.

IN THE NEWS

Colonel George “Bud” Day Dies

Medal of Honor recipient and Vietnam prisoner of war George “Bud” Day died at his home in Shalimar, Florida on July 27, 2013, at the age of 88. Day was a prisoner of war for 5 1/2 years and was the cellmate of future senator and presidental candidate, John McCain. During his time in captivity he defiantly endured continuous brutality without divulging sensitive information to his captives.

McCain was born at Sioux City, Iowa on February 25, 1925 and joined the Marines in 1942 while still in high school. After World War II he graduated from law school and passed the bar exam in 1949. In 1950 he joined the Iowa National Guard and attended flight school. Called to active duty in 1951, he completed two tours as a bomber pilot during the Korean War.

On August 26, 1967, Major Day’s F-100F Super Sabre was hit by enemy ground fire during a forward air control mission. Seriously injured, he was taken prisoner, but later escaped, evading capture for 14 days, before being shot and recaptured.

For his extreme heroism as a prisoner of war he received the Medal of Honor and Air Force Cross. His other decorations included the Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, three Bronze Stars for Valor, four Air Medals and four Purple Hearts.

From the Tampa Bay TimesSubmitted by Peter Hlinka