University sports medal — Universidad Central de Las Villas, IV Juegos (1964)
Entry/Object ID
2025.20.4
Description
Round gilt-metal medal with an integral suspension loop and jump ring at the top, surmounting a small arch-topped blue-enamel tab at the bottom. The obverse bears the arched legend "UNIVERSIDAD CENTRAL" around the upper rim, a rooster/gamecock (the "Gallo Criollo") struck in relief at center, and the appended blue-enamel tab carrying a gilt figure of an athlete in a dynamic pose. The reverse is a plain field embossed "IV JUEGOS 1964."
Acquisition
Accession
2025.20
Acquisition Method
Gift
Made/Created
Date made
1964
Time Period
1960s
Place
City
Santa Clara
State/Province
Las Villas
Country
Cuba
Region
Caribbean, Central America
Notes
Maker: Not identified; no maker's mark. Issued by/for the Universidad Central "Marta Abreu" de Las Villas (UCLV), Santa Clara, for its fourth university sports games.
Inscription/Signature/Marks
Location
Obverse
Transcription
Universidad Central.
Location
Reverse
Transcription
IV JUEGOS 1964
Materials
Material Notes
Materials: Gilt copper-alloy/brass; blue enamel on the appended tab; metal jump ring.
Technique: Die-struck/stamped gilt medal in relief; champlevé/painted enamel on the lower tab; integral suspension loop with jump ring.
Condition
Overall Condition
Fair
Relationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Universidad Central de Las Villas
Related Places
Place
City
Santa Clara
State/Province
Las Villas
Country
Cuba
Region
Caribbean, Central America
Notes
imagery
Research Notes
Notes
UCLV's annual university games take the Creole gamecock ("Gallo Criollo") as their emblem; this medal commemorates the IV edition in 1964. The rooster and "Universidad Central" legend identify it with UCLV specifically (the Las Villas/Villa Clara rooster association is well established). The precise relationship of the 1964 "IV Juegos" to the modern continuous edition count (55th in 2022) is uncertain — early editions and numbering may have differed or been interrupted — so the record follows the inscription ("4th edition, 1964") rather than equating it to the present-day series number.
