Olympic gold medals contain only a small amount of actual gold. The last time gold medals were made entirely out of gold was 1912. Since then, regulations have been put in place by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to standardize the medals and reduce costs. The amount of gold in today’s Olympic gold medals is just 6 grams, or 0.211 ounces. This is a tiny fraction of the medal’s total weight. Olympic gold medals are required to be at least 60mm in diameter and 3mm thick. Given the density of gold, 6 grams spread over this area equates to just 0.2-0.3% gold by weight. The rest is made up of silver and copper. But why so little gold in Olympic gold medals? And what accounts for the other 99.7% of the medal’s mass? Read on to learn more.
Gold Content of Olympic Gold Medals Over Time
In the early 20th century, Olympic gold medals were made entirely out of gold. The gold medals awarded at the 1912 Olympic games in Stockholm, Sweden contained 100 grams of solid gold. At today’s prices, this amount of gold would be worth around $5,000! However, as the Olympics grew in size and scope, the cost of using pure gold became prohibitive.
The 1916 Olympics were cancelled due to World War 1. When the games resumed in 1920, the gold medals contained less gold than before – about 60 grams each. The 1928 Amsterdam Olympics reduced the gold content further to 50 grams per medal. And when the Olympics began using gold from multiple nations in the medals, the gold weight was reduced to 40 grams in 1932.
The 1940 and 1944 Olympics were cancelled due to World War 2. When the games resumed in 1948, strict rules were put in place to standardize Olympic medals. The IOC ordered that all Olympic gold medals must contain at least 6 grams of gold. This rule remains in effect today.
| Olympics Year | Total Gold Content |
|---|---|
| 1912 Stockholm | 100 grams |
| 1920 Antwerp | 60 grams |
| 1928 Amsterdam | 50 grams |
| 1932 Los Angeles | 40 grams |
| 1948 London | 6 grams (minimum) |
Why Only 6 Grams of Gold?
There are several reasons why the IOC reduced the gold content of Olympic gold medals to just 6 grams:
– **Cost** – With hundreds of gold medals awarded at each Olympics, using pure or nearly pure gold became prohibitively expensive. The spot price of gold today is about $60 per gram. A pure 100 gram gold medal would cost over $6,000 at current prices. Multiply this by hundreds of winners, and the gold alone could cost millions of dollars per Olympics. Using just 6 grams of gold reduces the cost substantially.
– **Scarcity** – There is only so much gold mined per year. With global gold reserves limited, the Olympic committee likely wanted to reduce reliance on gold for sustainability. Requiring just 6 grams conserves a scarce resource.
– **Standardization** – Mandating a minimum 6 grams ensured some consistency between host nations and Olympics years when it came to the gold content. This avoided potential controversies around countries adding more or less gold to highlight their own medals.
– **Focus on Symbolism** – The IOC realized that long-term value comes not from a medal’s metal content but what it represents. An athlete’s gold medal recognizes their hard work, dedication, and achievement. The small gold content maintains prestige while allowing the focus to remain on what the medal stands for rather than its intrinsic value.
So in summary, by containing just 6 grams of gold, the Olympic gold medals remain prestigious and valuable while keeping costs under control for host nations. This preserves gold reserves and focuses the meaning of the medal on athletic triumph rather than monetary value.
Composition of Today’s Olympic Gold Medals
If Olympic gold medals only have 6 grams of actual gold, what accounts for the remaining 99.7% of the medal? While the gold content defines the color and shine, other metals make up the bulk of the medal’s weight and size.
Here are the metals and minimum amounts required by the IOC for modern Olympic gold medals:
– **Gold** – minimum 6 grams
– **Silver** – minimum 550 grams
– **Copper** – minimum 200 grams
So the majority of an Olympic gold medal’s weight comes from silver and copper. These are cheaper metals than gold that allow the large medals to be made substantial and durable for less cost.
The relative amounts of silver and copper can vary, but combined they must add up to at least 750 grams along with the 6 grams of gold. This ensures Olympic gold medals have a standardized size and heft.
The amounts and purity levels of the metals result in the distinctive golden look and feel associated with Olympic victories. So while not made entirely of gold, the medals achieve the look and status of gold within the constraints of budget, resources and symbolism.
Total Weight of a Gold Medal
The IOC mandates the minimum size and dimensions for Olympic medals:
– **Diameter** – minimum 60mm
– **Thickness** – minimum 3mm
Given these dimensions and the required minimum metal amounts, most Olympic gold medals weigh between 500-600 grams.
For example, the gold medals awarded at the 2016 Rio Olympics weighed exactly 556 grams and were 85mm in diameter and 6mm thick. Of this total weight, just 6 grams was pure gold!
So next time you see a victorious Olympic athlete wearing a gold medal, remember that while a small fraction is pure gold, the vast majority is silver and copper. But that doesn’t diminish the immense achievement it represents!
Value of Olympic Gold Medals
Although Olympic gold medals contain just a tiny amount of actual gold, they are still highly valuable collectibles. Their value comes not from intrinsic metal content but from their significance as pinnacles of athletic achievement.
Interestingly, the value of gold medals on the open market varies widely depending on the particular Olympics and the athlete who won it:
– **1936 Jesse Owens medal** – Sold for $1.4 million in 2013
– **1960 Rome Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) medal** – Estimated $500,000+ value
– **1992 Dream Team basketball medal** – Estimated $50,000 value
– **1960 US ice hockey medal** – Sold for $62,000
– **Medals with no/unknown athlete association** – Tend to sell for scrap value of $300-$500
This shows that provenance drives the value more than the small amount of gold content. Medals won by famous athletes in iconic Olympic moments command the highest prices from collectors. Regular medals with no athlete connection sell for just the modest value of their metals.
Of course, athletes don’t usually sell their hard-won gold medals. But it’s interesting to consider what an Olympic gold medal could fetch on the open market due to its place in sports history versus its scrap metal value!
Conclusion
Olympic gold medals contain just a tiny amount of real gold – 6 grams out of over 500 grams total weight. The IOC mandates this small gold content to reduce costs while maintaining prestige. The rest of the medal is made up of silver and copper. While the medals derive value from their gold content, most of their worth comes from being pinnacles of athletic glory. The achievement they represent far outshines the physical medal. Winning athletes cherish their gold medals forever as symbols of their triumph and dedication.
