The first modern Olympic games were held in Athens, Greece, in 1896. There were only 250 athletes in those games, but they reignited a tradition of athletic excellence that we are lucky enough to enjoy this year.
Although the 2020 Olympics were delayed a full year, they are still happening! Watching the hoisting of the Olympic flag in the original Grecian Stadium felt like a holy event. From that ancient earthworks stadium, the torch bearers carried the Olympic flame to ignite the 2020 Olympic cauldron in Tokyo, Japan.
The value and rarity of the medals won by the star athletes increases the older the medals are. The medal that fetched over $180,000.00 USD last week was from the first modern Olympic games. A silver medal was a first-place award, and second place received bronze medals. The ranking system did not recognize those that placed third.
The original, 1896, first-place medal featured an engraving of Zeus, the father of the Olympiads on the obverse, and an engraving of Acropolis on the reverse. It was a large, solid silver, metal with a 48mm diameter.
The medal was auctioned off by RR Auction’s in Boston, MA on July 22nd, 2021, to a private collector. Hope you are having a great day, and a great weekend.
Read more at AP, “Rare medal from first modern Olympics fetches over $180,000“
Pendant and Ring 