Featured here is a rare and stunning artifact from the 1900 Paris Summer Olympics: a 1st Place Winner’s Solid Gold Medal for Automobile Racing during a time when the sport was gaining worldwide popularity. What makes this gold medal so special is that it is made of solid 22 karat gold (91.6%) as opposed to the gold-plated silver used in most 1st place winners’ medals issued at these Games (see
Lot 1273). After 1912, all gold medals were composed of gold-plated silver. Most 1900 Olympic medal winners, in fact, did not receive medals at all, instead given cups or trophies. These were the only Games in which all medals awarded came in the unique form of rectangular-shaped plaques. It is believed that this is one of only four 22K solid gold examples to have survived the 1900 Games: two are in private collections (one for Water Polo and one for Gymnastics) and one is in the IOC Olympic Museum in Switzerland (also for Automobile Racing) in significantly worse condition.
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 exposition lasted from May 14 to October 28. There were 85 events across 19 sports. 24 nations and 997 athletes participated. The 1900 Paris Olympics were noteworthy for many reasons. They were the first Games held outside of Greece, the first to feature female competitors, and the only Games to ever include Automobile Racing. According to the consignor, a member of several Olympic collector organizations who has done much research on the matter, this particular medal was awarded for an Automobile Reliability Trials event, divided into categories based on a vehicle’s size, method of propulsion, number of seats, etc. All winner’s medals were presented to the auto manufacturers, not the drivers. Notable winning manufacturers at the 1900 Games included Peugeot, Renault, Delahaye, De Dion-Bouton, Lorraine-Dietrich, and Panhard-Levassor.
This 22 karat gold medal is remarkably well-preserved, its exquisite design retaining sharp detail for being struck over 115 years ago. There is little wear and slight oxidation evident. Weight is 92 grams—34g more than gold-plated silver examples. By comparison, solid gold medals issued for 1904, 1908 and 1912 Olympic Games were all 30g or less. Dimensions are 59 x 41 x 3mm. Struck by Paris Mint, it is marked “OR” (meaning “gold”) on the rim with the minter’s cornucopia symbol. Designed by Frédéric Vernon, the obverse displays a victorious athlete standing on a podium inscribed "CONCOURS D’AUTOMOBILES" ("Automobiles Competition"). The reverse shows Nike, winged Goddess of Victory, scattering laurel branches over the Paris exposition grounds with the inscriptions “REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE – PARIS 1900 – EXPOSITION UNIVERSELLE" and designer “F.VERNON” marked at the bottom. Comes in its original brown presentation case. Presents NM-MT. This same exact medal was sold at auction for $77,418 in 2012.
The 22 karat gold content has been thoroughly inspected, tested and verified by Swiss professional jewelry expert, Jean-Jacques Mamie.