DESCRIPTION

Its obverse displays the Olympic rings over the inscription Vmes JEUX / OLYMPIQUES / D’HIVER / St MORITZ / 1948. There is a faint snowflake in the background. The reverse depicts the symbolic figure of Victory and a mountain range in the background. The medals were presented in a maroon cardboard box with the Olympic rings stamped on the cover.

THE GAMES

The 1940 Winter Olympics were originally scheduled for Sapporo, Japan. War with China forced the Japanese to admit, in 1938, that they would be unable to host the Games. St. Moritz was chosen as an alternative site but the continuing dispute about ski instructors led the Swiss to withdraw as well. The Germans volunteered Garmisch-Partenkirchen in 1939 but four months later, World War II forced the cancellation of the Olympics. Germany and Japan were barred from competing in 1948 but everyone else took part eagerly and it was clear that the Winter Olympics had successfully survived the 12-year hiatus. For the first time, North Americans won gold medals in figure skating. Barbara Ann Scott of Canada took the women’s title and Dick Button of the United States the men’s. In general, athletic success was evenly divided. Although 22 events were contested, only French Alpine skier Henri Oreiller and Swedish Nordic skier Martin Lundström were able to win two gold medals.