Appealing winner's medal issued to Cuban boxer Orlando Martinez for his victory in the bantamweight boxing event at the Munich 1972 Summer Olympics. Gilt silver, 66 mm, 157 gm (without chain) or 210 gm (with chain), by Gerhard Marcks; manufactured by the Bavarian Mint. The front is inscribed, “XX. Olympiade Munchen 1972,” and depicts the 'Seated Victory' with the Colosseum in the background; the reverse portrays the mythological twins Castor and Pollux, the patrons of competitive sport and friendship, with the artist's monogram below. The top edge is engraved with the winner's event, "Boxing 54kg," and name, "Martinez Orlando.” Complete with its original golden chain, which has been re-plated in gold; the medal itself is unrestored.
This was the first winner's medal since 1928 to feature a new design on the reverse, replacing the traditional depiction of a victorious athlete carried by a jubilant crowd. A total of 364 gold medals were produced by Munich's Bavarian Mint, making these rather scarce. In the 1972 Munich bantamweight semifinals, Orlando was awarded the victory in a hotly disputed 3-2 split decision over Great Britain's George Turpin. In the final, Martinez coasted to a comfortable points win over future professional world bantamweight champion Alfonso Zamora.
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