What is the actual material value of an Olympic gold medal?
In short: While they represent ultimate glory, the physical components of an Olympic gold medal have a specific market value. This video examines the composition and worth of the medals from the London 2012 Games to show how much precious metal is actually used.
The 2012 London Olympics featured the largest medals in Summer Olympic history up to that point, each weighing 400g. These medals were composed of 394g of sterling silver—consisting of 364.45g of silver and 29.55g of copper—and 6g of 24 karat gold plating.
Based on the market prices at the time of the London Games, the material value of one medal was approximately $624. This total included roughly $304 for the gold plating and about $320 for the sterling silver content.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: How Much are Olympic Gold Medals Worth?
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