DESCRIPTION

The obverse depicts a charioteer riding in a biga (small chariot) drawn by two prancing horses. Floating atop this image is the angelic depiction of “Flying Victory” reaching toward the charioteer with a laurel crown. The goddess, Nike, stands atop a platform as victorious athletes await their crowning. View of Antwerp in the background. The designer’s name, P. THEUNIS, and date, MCMXX is also inscribed on the reverse.

THE GAMES

The 1916 Olympics were scheduled to be held in Berlin, but were canceled because of what came to be known as World War I. The 1920 Games were awarded to Antwerp to honor the suffering that had been inflicted on the Belgian people during the war. The Opening Ceremony was notable for the introduction of the Olympic flag and the presentation of the Athletes’ Oath. In a performance unequaled in Olympic history, Nedo Nadi of Italy earned gold medals in five of the six fencing events. Ethelda Bleibtrey of the United States won gold medals in all three women’s swimming contests. Including preliminary heats, she swam in five races and broke the world record in every one. France’s Suzanne Lenglen dominated women’s tennis singles so completely that she lost only four games in the ten sets she played. At age 72, Swedish shooter Oscar Swahn earned a silver medal in the team double-shot running deer event to become the oldest medalist ever. The 1920 12-foot dinghy sailing event was the only event in Olympic history to be held in two countries. The first race was staged in Belgium, but the last two races took place in the Netherlands because the only two entrants were Dutch.