Medallic Art - Different Metals

Different Metals

Traditionally, medals are made of the following metals, in order of decreasing value:

  1. Platinum
  2. Gold
  3. Silver, or silver-gilt, which is in fact used for Olympic "gold medals"
  4. Bronze or gilt-bronze
  5. Copper
  6. Tin
  7. Iron

Many medals were and are made in several different metals, either representing awards for different places in a competition, or standards or classes, as with the Olympic medals, or simply different price levels for medals made for sale or donation by the commissioner. Medals have historically been given as prizes in various types of competitive activities, especially athletics. The gold, silver and bronze Olympic medals for first, second and third places were first used at the 1904 Summer Olympics. At the 1896 event, silver was awarded to winners and bronze to runners-up, while at 1900 other prizes were given, not medals. The medals for the London 2012 Summer Olympics are the largest ever, reflecting a trend for increasing size in Olympic medals.

Read more about this topic:  Medallic Art

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