MELBOURNE / STOCKHOLM 1956

Obverse

Reverse

   On the obverse, the traditional goddess of victory, holding a palm in her left hand and a winner's crown in her right. A design used since the 1928 Games in Amsterdam, created by Florentine artist Giuseppe Cassioli (ITA -1865-1942) and chosen after a competition organised by the International Olympic Committee.

   For these Games, the picture of victory is accompanied by the specific inscription: "XVIth OLYMPIAD MELBOURNE 1956". 

   On the reverse, an Olympic champion carried in triumph by the crowd, with the Olympic stadium in the background.

N.B: From 1928 to 1968, the medals for the Summer Games were identical.

   The Organising Committee for the Games in Munich in 1972 broke new ground by having a different reverse which was designed by a Bauhaus representative, Gerhard Marcks.

Credit: IOC

For further info., please vist http://www.olympic.org/uk/games/past/index_uk.asp?OLGT=1&OLGY=1956.