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_400.jpeg "A History of the Olympic Bronze Medal")
At GoldFellow, as you may imagine, we are fascinated by fine metals and jewels. While the Olympic gold and silver medals get most of the attention, we wanted to look at some interesting facts regarding the history of the Olympic bronze medal.
The First Olympic Bronze Medal
Believe it or not, the first Olympic bronze medals were not, in fact, solely a third-place prize. The first Olympic medals were awarded in the 1896 Olympic games, held in Athens, Greece. Rather than first place receiving a gold medal, second place silver, and third place bronze, first place was awarded a silver medal, and second and third place were awarded bronze medals. In addition to the medals, first place received an olive branch, and second and third place received a laurel branch. Gold was viewed as far too valuable a reward for athletes and was not seen until the 1904 Olympic games.
When Did the Bronze Medal Begin Signifying Third Place?
The Olympic medal system as we know it today began at the 1904 Olympic game, held in St. Louis. First place received a gold medal, second place silver, and third place bronze.
What Is a Bronze Medal Made Of?
You may be surprised to find out that Olympic medals are not quite what you think they are. The gold medal, for example, is not made up of 24 karat gold, or even 18 or 14 karat gold. The medal is composed of 92.5% silver and is given a 6-gram gold plating. Likewise, the silver medal is not made of pure silver, but like the gold medal, it consists of 92.5% silver and is mixed with other alloys.
Bronze is a man-made metal consisting largely of copper and an alloy of 12-12.5% tin. Other metals such as aluminum, manganese, nickel, or zinc may also be added. The Olympic bronze medal in the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, is composed of 95% copper and 5% zinc.
How Much Is an Olympic Bronze Medal Worth?
The worth of an Olympic bronze medal can be tricky to calculate. If you ask the winning athlete, that medal may be priceless to them, signifying years of hard work and dedication. Likewise, the value to a collector may be increased due to the medal’s significance. However, one can easily calculate the value of the actual metals involved, and the answer may surprise you.
The Olympic bronze medal has a metal value of $5. This low value may be surprising; however, the alloys that make up bronze are not very valuable.
How Much Is Your Jewelry Worth
Unlike an Olympic bronze medal, the unused jewelry in your closet may actually be worth quite a lot of money. At GoldFellow, we let you sell your scrap gold online or in-store at our Weston, Florida location. We purchase gold, silver, and jewels in all conditions.
Too far from Weston, Florida, to make a trip out? We offer insured mail services that let you ship your scrap gold to us, where we evaluate under video surveillance for your review. You can choose to sell your gold through the mail, or, if not satisfied with our price, we will ship it back to you at our own cost. Contact us today to get cash for your gold.
