Medals: not everything that glitters is gold

Solid goldmedals were awarded in three appointments only. Today they are made of much cheaper materials. What are the Olympic awards in London 2012made?

Since began to make the Olympic Games of the modern era, in Athens 1896, the prize winners has changed dramatically.

In 1896 the medal is granted only to the first and the second, which took one silver and one bronze, respectively, next to an olive branch. Paris 1900, were not only given the recognized Awards, which were rectangular, but that added cups and bowls.

Athens 1896 left and right Paris 1900.

In Saint Louis 1904, winners were a solid gold medal. The custom until Stockholm 1912. But the high costs that generated led to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to regulate the materials that were used, and in those days, it imposed a minimum of 6% each medal in pure gold, with silver of 925-1000. Those of the second should be a similar silver.

Left Saint Louis 1904 and London 1908 right.

In the appointment of London 2012 will be delivered 4,700 medals. Those aimed at the top are composed of 93% silver, 6% copper and 1% of gold, for the 92% with 8% of copper silver seconds and the third 97% copper, 2.5% zinc and Tin 0.5.

Atlanta 1996

Although with the passage of time was devalued the real value of the prizes, some awards are true relics for which you can get to spend lots of money. A gold medal in the team champion of the 1980s ice hockey years ago was sold for US $300 billion.