Coin from the 1968 Olympics attached to a chain and worn by Tommie Smith

Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

This commemorative 25 peso coin attached to a chain necklace was worn by Tommie Smith during a medal ceremony at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, Mexico. The front of the coin has a central symbol of a person in Native dress playing a traditional Mexican game called ollamaliztli. Text around the rim reads "JUEGOS DE LA XIX OLIMPIADA MEXICO 1968" with the five Olympic coins at the bottom of the rim. The reverse of the coin features the coat of arms of Mexico, an eagle standing on a prickly pear cactus while eating a rattlesnake. Text around the upper half of the rim reads "ESTADOS UNIDOS MEXICANOS" with "25 / PESOS" at the proper left center rim and "LEY/ 0720" at the proper right center rim. The coin is attached to a long metal chain link so that the front side faces correctly while the back side faces upside down.

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