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Originally Posted by drcy
A major step would be to identify the material. A gold medal would be genuine gold, silver would be real silver, etc. Taking them to your local jeweler could do this.
One method use to authenticate World Series rings is to identify that the stones and metal are precious-- something the jeweller can do. Salesman samples and mass produced editions won't be of precious materials.
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David,
That is incorrect. Olympic gold medals are gold plated silver and have been for every Olympiad since 1920. Solid gold medals were produced for 1st place winners in 1904, 1908 and 1912. In 1896 first place winners received a silver medal, diploma and olive wreath. Second place winners received a copper medal and diploma. Third place received nothing. At the 1992 winter Olympics in Albertville, France, the winners medals were a combination of metal and Lalique crystal. At those games one of the athletes dropped their medal and it shattered. They received a replacement medal.
Participation medals are a different story. They have been produced in bronze, silver, pewter, copper, steel and there have been a few special presentation ones produced in gold. I believe the gold ones were from 1912 and presented by the King of Sweden.