Featured here is an ancient artifact from the 1900 Paris Summer Olympics: a 1st Place Winner’s Gold Medal for Athletics (Track & Field). The Games of the II Olympiad were held in conjunction with the French capital's famous International Exposition of 1900, more commonly known as the World’s Fair. The 1904 Olympic Games in St. Louis were the only other Games held in conjunction with the World’s Fair. Under such circumstances, there were no opening or closing ceremonies and some athletes were unaware that they were competing in Olympic events until later. The exposition lasted over five months, from May 14 to October 28. The 1900 Paris Olympics were also noteworthy in that they were the second modern Games, the first to be held outside of Greece, and the first to feature female competitors (although only 22 women competed). In addition, these were the only Games in which all winner’s medals issued (gold, silver or bronze) came in the unique form of rectangular-shaped plaques.
In track & field, 23 events were held with 117 athletes from 15 countries. U.S. athletes dominated the medal count, winning 16 gold, 13 silver and 10 bronze medals. American Alvin Kraenzlein, known as "the father of the modern hurdling technique,” won four gold medals (60m dash, 110m high hurdles, 200m low hurdles, and long jump) and still holds the record for most individual golds by a track & field athlete at one Olympic Game. (Jessie Owens won three individual and one relay in 1936.) The original recipient of this particular gold medal is unknown. The overwhelming majority of gold medals awarded to 1st place winners were composed of gold-plated silver. After 1912, all gold medals were composed of gold-plated silver. A very select number of Olympic champions at the 1900 Paris Games received solid gold medals (see Lot 1274).
This 1900 gold medal is remarkably well-preserved, its magnificent design retaining sharp detail for being struck 116 years ago. The medal plaque weighs 58 grams (2.1 ounces) and measures 59mm by 41mm by 3mm thick. The rim is accurately marked “ARGENT” (silver in French) signifying the Vermeil composition and also has Paris Mint’s cornucopia symbol. Designed by Frédéric Vernon, the obverse displays a victorious athlete standing on a podium inscribed "CONCOURS DE JEUX ATHLETIQUES" ("Athletic Games Competition"). Few Olympic Games issued winner’s medals with the event inscribed. The reverse shows Nike, winged Goddess of Victory, scattering laurel branches over Paris exposition grounds with the French legend “REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE – PARIS 1900 – EXPOSITION UNIVERSELLE” inscribed and designer “F.VERNON” marked at the bottom. It presents in Near Mint condition, with light handling.
The gold-plated silver composition has been thoroughly inspected, tested and verified by Swiss professional jewelry expert, Jean-Jacques Mamie.