The medals include several from the 1896 Olympic Games in Athens, which launched the modern incarnation of the elite multi-sport competition.
With the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in full swing, NGC® is proud to showcase a group of 30 NGC-certified medals from various Olympic Games throughout history, including seven from the inaugural competition that was held in Athens in 1896 that re-launched the ancient sports competition. The submission, from a major collectibles dealer, also included medals from 15 other Olympics, as recent as the Sochi Winter Games in 2014.
1896 Athens Summer Olympics 1st Place Medal - Silver 50mm graded NGC MS 62
 |
 |
| Click images to enlarge. |
The group of medals includes seven from the 1896 Summer Olympics held in Athens, which have particularly strong collector appeal because they embody the re-launch of the renowned ancient sports competition after a hiatus of about 1,500 years. Among these are three Participation Medals, two Bronze 2nd Place Olympic Medals and two Silver 1st Place Olympic Medals, one graded NGC UNC Details and the other graded NGC MS 62.
The design of the 1st and 2nd Place Medals from acclaimed French sculptor J.C. Chaplain shows Zeus with winged Victory on the obverse and the Acropolis on the reverse. Fewer than 250 athletes (most of them from Greece) attended these initial Games, with medals awarded in 43 events.
1908 London Summer Olympics 1st Place Medal - Gold 33mm graded NGC AU 55 - "Open Rifle Teams"
 |
 |
| Click images to enlarge. |
While an Olympic Gold Medal is regarded as the ultimate achievement in many sports, today's 1st Place medals are actually gold-plated silver, as they have been for more than a century. The only Olympics to routinely award 1st Place medals made primarily of gold were the 1904, 1908 and 1912 Summer Olympics. This 1908 Olympic Gold Medal was for one of the team rifle events.
Other highlights from this stunning group of Olympic medals included:
1900 Paris Summer Olympics Winner's Medal - Silver 60x42mmm graded NGC AU Details - Aquatic Lifesaving
 |
 |
| Click images to enlarge. |
1904 St. Louis Summer Olympics Participation Medal - Bronze 40mm graded NGC MS 64
 |
 |
| Click images to enlarge. |
1912 Stockholm Summer Olympics 1st Place Medal, Teams - Gilt Silver 33mm graded NGC AU 53
 |
 |
| Click images to enlarge. |
1920 Antwerp Summer Olympics 1st Place Medal - Gilt Silver 60 mm graded NGC AU Details - "1,600 Meters Relay"
 |
 |
| Click images to enlarge. |
1928 Amsterdam Summer Olympics 1st Place Medal - Gilt Silver 55mm graded NGC AU 53
 |
 |
| Click images to enlarge. |
1932 Los Angeles Summer Olympics 1st Place Medal - Gilt Silver 55mm graded NGC AU 55
 |
 |
| Click images to enlarge. |
1932 Los Angeles Summer Olympics Participation Medal - Bronze 69mm graded NGC MS 64
 |
 |
| Click images to enlarge. |
1932 Lake Placid Winter Olympics 3rd Place Medal - Bronze 55mm graded NGC MS 65
 |
 |
| Click images to enlarge. |
1936 Berlin Summer Olympics 1st Place Medal - Gilt Silver graded NGC UNC Details
 |
 |
| Click images to enlarge. |
1948 London Summer Olympics 1st Place Medal - Silver Gilt 50mm graded NGC MS 62 - Jimmy McLane
 |
 |
| Click images to enlarge. |
1948 London Summer Olympics Participation Medal - Bronze 50mm graded NGC MS 62
 |
 |
| Click images to enlarge. |
1952 Oslo Winter Games 1st Place Medal - Silver Gilt 70mm graded NGC MS 63
 |
 |
| Click images to enlarge. |
(1960) Squaw Valley Winter Olympics 1st Place Medal - Gilt Silver 55mm graded NGC MS 65 - Hockey, Eugene Grazia
 |
 |
| Click images to enlarge. |
1960 Squaw Valley Winter Olympics Participation Medal - Bronze 50mm graded NGC MS 66
 |
 |
| Click images to enlarge. |
1980 Moscow Summer Olympics 1st Place Medal - Gilt Silver 60mm graded NGC MS 66 - Handball
 |
 |
| Click images to enlarge. |
1980 Lake Placid Winter Olympics 3rd Place Medal - Bronze 80mm graded NGC MS 64 - Sabine Becker, Speedskating
 |
 |
| Click images to enlarge. |
2014 Sochi Winter Olympics Participation Medal - Nickel-Brass 50mm graded NGC MS 66 PL
 |
 |
| Click images to enlarge. |
