Title:
Athens 1896
Description:
Olympic Games Athens 1896 Medals
Front: Face of Zeus holding winged statue of Nike, the goddess of victory, on globe holding laurel branch
Back: City view of Athens with the Acropolis and arching legend, "Athens Olympics 1896" in Greek
Designer: Jules Clement Chaplain
Mint: Monnaie de Paris
Front: Face of Zeus holding winged statue of Nike, the goddess of victory, on globe holding laurel branch
Back: City view of Athens with the Acropolis and arching legend, "Athens Olympics 1896" in Greek
Designer: Jules Clement Chaplain
Mint: Monnaie de Paris
Fun fact(s):
On April 6, 1896, American James Connolly won the first event in the modern Olympic Games, the hop, step and jump, more commonly known as the triple jump. Connolly not only received the silver medal, he was also presented with a crown of olive branches and a diploma.
More Info:
The medal was designed by French sculptor Jules Clement Chaplain at the request of Baron Pierre de Coubertin, father of the Modern Olympic Games.
First-place finishers received silver and second-place finishers recieved copper/bronze medals. Gold medals were not awarded officially until the St. Louis 1904 Games.
First-place finishers received silver and second-place finishers recieved copper/bronze medals. Gold medals were not awarded officially until the St. Louis 1904 Games.
Click to Enlarge
Front: Athens 1896 silver (1st) prize medal - Zeus holding goddess Nike
Front: Athens 1896 bronze (2nd) prize medal - Zeus holding goddess Nike
Back: Athens 1896 Olympic prize medals with Acropolis above Athens
Front: Athens 1896 silver (1st) prize medal - Zeus holding goddess Nike
Front: Athens 1896 bronze (2nd) prize medal - Zeus holding goddess Nike
Back: Athens 1896 Olympic prize medals with Acropolis above Athens