Olympic Games, Los Angeles

Los Angeles Olympics
State Medal, 5744-1984

The Olympic Games were first held in 776 B.C.E. in ancient Greece. The victor of the contests received an olive branch as a trophy for their success. The Olympic Games in ancient Greece were held 293 times and ended in 293 C.E. The idea of the modern Olympic Games was conceived by Baron Pierre de Coubertin, himself a sportsman. In 1896, the games reopened in Athens. The slogan chosen for the Olympics was "faster, higher, stronger". At the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984, 10,000 athletes from 160 countries competed in 24 different branches of sport. Israel has until now participated in nine Olympic Games. The Olympic scene etched in every Israeli heart is that of Munich in 1972, when 11 athletes and trainers were killed by PLO assassins who, in the middle of the night, penetrated the Olympic village and seized control of the Israeli team.

Obverse: Stylized figure of a sportsman in motion and the words "a life of bodily vigour" in Hebrew and English.

Reverse: The Israeli Olympic emblem and the words "a life of bodily vigour" in Hebrew and English.

Edge: The emblem of the State of Israel, the words "State of Israel" in Hebrew and English, serial number and the metal content.

Serialization: All the medals are numbered Bronze - 3248 numbered, 652 melted. Silver - 3162 numbered, 678 melted. Gold 22 m.m. - 1848 numbered, 324 melted. Gold 30 m.m. - 1698 numbered, 60 melted.

Designer: Obverse - Dan Reisinger Reverse - Gideon Keich

Engraving: Kretschmer

Mint: Bronze - Hecht Gold and Silver Jerusalem The Government Mint,