Lot 1
On the obverse, the goddess Nike holds a victory palm in her left hand and a winner's crown in her right. The design named 'Trionfo' ('triumph') was first used for the 1928 Games in Amsterdam, created by Florentine artist Giuseppe Cassioli (1865-1942) and chosen after a competition organised by the International Olympic Committee in 1921. For these Games, the figure of Victory is accompanied by the specific inscription: 'XXVI OLYMPIAD ATLANTA 1996'.
On the reverse, the official emblem of the 1996 Games and the 'Quilt of Leaves' design. For each sport, the medals awarded to the athletes were minted with the addition of the relevant sport's pictogram positioned in the centre of the 'Quilt of Leaves'.
Designed by Malcolm Grear after the original by Giuseppe Cassioli. Minted by American silversmith Reed & Barton
Composed of Gilt silver
Measuring 70mm in diameter
Estimate $50,000 - $70,000
Michael Diamond was the first Australian to win an Olympic shooting event since 1900, with this his first Olympic Gold Medal for Trap shooting in Atlanta's 1996 Games (149 out of 150 targets). He followed that with a win in the following Olympic Games in Sydney in 2000 (147 out of 150 targets). He is only the second trap shooter to have won back-to-back Olympic Gold Medals. The World Championship in both the trap and double trap in 2000 were also held by Michael and his final world record in trap was held between 2007 and 2008 where he won the trap event at the 2007 World Shotgun Championships. In his sixth Olympic Games in London in 2012, he led the field at the end of the qualification period, with an Olympic record of 125/125, but fourth overall was his final position in London, a position he also achieved in 2008. Michael also won Commonwealth gold medals, setting him apart from his Australian piers within the sport.
The opportunity to acquire an Olympic Games Gold Medal is rare indeed and this, Michael's treasured first Olympic Games Gold Medal, represents the last chance to acquire the ultimate sporting collectable representative of this historic period in Australian trap shooting.
In 2017 Michael sold by public auction his Sydney Olympic Games Gold Medal for $72,000 (AUD) plus Buyer's Premium.
The Michael Diamond Olympic Gold Medal
AUCTION
Sale: LJ8358
2:00pm - 5 December 2019
333 Malvern Rd, South Yarra 3141
VIEWING
Wednesday 4 December, 9am-8pm
CONTACT
John Albrecht
john.albrecht@leonardjoel.com.au