The percentage of gold in Olympic medals is insignificant, but the Paris 2024 version contains a detail that could boost their value in the future.
The most coveted prize of the Olympic Gamesthe gold medalonly contains one minimal part of gold. The object weighs 529 grams, but only six grams They are gold (about 1.3% of total weight of the medal), while the rest is pure silver. The gold part consists only of a plate placed on the silver core.
Until the Stockholm Games of 1912, gold medals were made almost entirely of gold. However, after the First World War, savings policies meant that, starting in Antwerp 1920, the amount of gold that made up the medals decreased.
The medal of plataHowever, it remains totally silverwhile bronze is a mixture of alloy of copper, tin y zinc.
How much is an Olympic gold medal worth today?
Oxford Economics puts the value of the gold medals at the Paris Olympics at 950 euros. The estimate matches current market values of 24-karat gold and sterling silver per gram.
However, the Paris 2024 medals are adorned with details that could considerably increase their value in the future: a piece of iron from the original frame of the Torre Eiffelplaced in the center of the medal, with the Paris 2024 logo.
These pieces of metal were removed from the emblematic tower during various renovation and modernization projects over the years and then preserved by the authorities.
The decision of link the Olympic prize with the symbol of the French capital was taken by a committee of athleteschaired by French biathlon legend Martin Fourcade.
Paris 2024 worked on the design with Chaumet, a French luxury jewelry and watch house that is more than two centuries old and based in Paris. According to Oxford Economics, the value of Olympic gold medals will increase over the yearsuntil situated around 1,500 euros in 2032when Australia hosts the Summer Games in Brisbane.
