2016-08-25 Thu

The Money Museum in Colorado Springs, Colo is currently exhibiting “Olympic Games—History & Numismatics” which shares vital information about Olympics! Here are some interesting facts about Olympic Medals that the museum shared.

1912 Summer Olympic Games in Stockholm was the last time when solid gold medals were made. Traditional Olympic gold medals were made from at least 92.5% silver and 6 grams of gold.

The official motto of the Games “Citius, Altius, Fortius” (“Faster, Higher, Stronger”) is depicted on four Winter Games medals but not on any Summer Games medals.

1904 Summer Olympic Games in St Louis was the first time when gold, silver and bronze medals were awarded. Before that, first-place athletes were crowned with an olive wreath and awarded a silver medal.

Summer Games medals have a classical design whereas Winter Games medals have a more freestyle layout and are generally larger, thicker, and heavier.

Athletes bite their gold medals because it was an ancient practice to bite into gold to test its purity and authenticity.

From 1912 to 1948, art competitions were held at Olympics, and categories included were architecture, literature, music painting, and sculpture.

Michael Phelps has won the highest number of 23 Olympic gold medals. Larisa Latynina, a former Soviet gymnast has won nine gold medals.

The exhibit features rare Syracusan dekadrachms (Greek coins) awarded during the fifth century B.C.; a 1936 Berlin Summer Olympics bronze medallion; a complete set of award medals from the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics and 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics; participation medals, torches and some mascots.

The museum, located at 818 N. Cascade Ave, near the campus of Colorado College and the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Centre, also houses several other rare and precious coins.