Gold, Silver and Bronze

"Gold, silver and bronze": the long and short story of the medal

La Monnaie de Paris has the immense privilege of manufacturing the medals that will be awarded to athletes at this summer's Games!

• "D'Or, d'argent et de bronze" (Gold, silver and bronze) is an in-depth look at the history of the medal and its evolution through the modern games.
• Closely linked to the creation of the Olympic medal and the metalworking trades, La Monnaie de Paris is obviously the emblematic place and the privileged witness to the history of this object in Paris, and provides us with invaluable insights.
• When was the first medal created? Where and by whom was it designed?
• The exhibition sheds light on this award, the symbols, allegories and meanings of such precise engravings on such a small medium.
• It explores the artists' "medallic" techniques and tools, and presents a selection of sports medals.
• With the help of documents loaned by the Geneva museum dedicated to Olympism and the Nice national sports museum, we trace the contemporary history of the object of all desires back to the crystal medals made by Lalique.
• Paris currency has produced a series of precious metal collector coins, medallions and paperweights celebrating the Games (since 2021).