Extremely rare winner's medal issued for the Stockholm 1956 Summer Olympics equestrian events. Bronze, 50 mm, 92 gm, by V. Falireus/John Sjosvard. The front depicts an ancient Greek horse and rider, inscribed with a Swedish legend, "XVI Olympiadens Ryttartavlingar, 1956, Stockholm." The reverse portrays the torch and Olympic rings, with "Jeux Olympiques" above, and the Olympic motto below, "Citius, Altius, Fortius." Stamped on the edge, "Lagerstrom / Mjolby." The medal bears slight red discoloration to torch and rings.
Due to Australian agricultural quarantine regulations, the equestrian events of Melbourne's XVI Olympiad were held five months earlier in Stockholm, Sweden, making the 1956 Summer Games the second Olympics not to be held entirely in one country; the 1920 Olympics, which Antwerp, Belgium co-hosted with Amsterdam and Ostend, were the first. Given the low number of participants in the equestrian events—158 riders competed in six events—any Stockholm medals remain rare and highly sought-after. An exceptionally rare Olympic honor, given that just 12 bronze winners' medals were awarded at the 1956 Stockholm Games.
