World’s First Olympic Medal Heads to Auction at Bruun Rasmussen

UPDATE March 1, 2026: CoinWeek was advised by Bruun Rasmussen that the Price Realized for this amazing 1896 Olympic Metal blew past the estimates and sold for DKK 900,000 / € 120,422 (excluding buyer’s premium) or DKK 1,152,000 / € 154.140 (including buyer’s premium). A Great Result! Congratulations to all involved, including the new owner!

Collectors rarely encounter artifacts that define the very beginning of global sport. However, such an opportunity will emerge on March 1st, when Bruun Rasmussen presents what specialists identify as the world’s first Olympic medal, struck for the first modern Olympic Games held in Athens in 1896. The silver winner’s medal carries a pre-auction estimate of €26,000 to €40,000.

Because medals from the inaugural Games survive in extremely limited numbers, appearances on the open market remain exceptional. As a result, this offering commands attention from both Olympic historians and advanced numismatists.

Olympic History Meets a Global Moment

The auction arrives ahead of the Olympic Winter Games Milan–Cortina 2026, scheduled for February 2026. While the Winter Games will take place later in the year, the approaching international focus on Olympic heritage adds timely relevance to the medal’s re-emergence.

Christian Grundtvig, Head of the Coins and Medals Department at Bruun Rasmussen, underscored the importance of the offering.

“This marks the first time we have offered a medal from the very first modern Olympic Games,” Grundtvig said. “Because such medals almost never appear on the market, collectors of Olympic memorabilia recognize this type of object as a defining acquisition.”

A Medal From the First Modern Games

This medal represents a winner’s award from the 1896 Athens Olympics, a Games that followed a prize structure unfamiliar to modern audiences. At that time, first-place athletes received silver medals, while second-place finishers earned bronze. Organizers introduced gold medals only at later Olympic Games.

The first modern Olympics took place from 6 to 15 April 1896. During that period, 241 athletes from 14 nations competed in 43 events across nine sports. Together, those competitions established the foundation of the modern Olympic movement.

Denmark participated in the Games, and Danish weightlifter Viggo Jensen secured victory in weightlifting, becoming Denmark’s first Olympic champion. However, no documentation links this specific medal to Jensen, and its original recipient therefore remains unconfirmed.

Classical Design by Jules-Clément Chaplain

Renowned French medallist Jules-Clément Chaplain engraved the medal, bringing classical symbolism directly into Olympic iconography.

On the obverse, Chaplain depicted a laureate head of Zeus, who holds a sphere crowned by Nike, the winged goddess of victory. Nike, in turn, carries an olive branch, reinforcing the Games’ ancient Greek roots.

On the reverse, Chaplain portrayed the Acropolis rock with the Parthenon, accompanied by the Greek inscription:

• “Διεθνείς Ολυμπιακοί Αγώνες – Αθήναι 1896”
• (International Olympic Games – Athens 1896).

Specifications and Preservation

The medal offered at auction displays strong visual appeal and careful preservation:

• Material: Silver (Ag)
• Diameter: 50 mm
• Weight: 67.20 grams
• Condition: Well-preserved with attractive original patina
• Accompaniment: Original box of issue

Specialists describe the piece as an excellent and aesthetically striking example of a medal that carries extraordinary historical importance.

Auction Information

The medal will be offered in Bruun Rasmussen’s Online Auction on 1 March. Bidding is currently open through the auction house’s official website.