Olympic medals... what are they made of?

[Prometheus]

I checked the olympics website and they just talk about the casting process... "lost wax" blah blah blah. Never what they are made of.

I doubt that big honkin' gold medal is 24k gold... Anyone know what the deal is with them?

[Nuggethunter]

Interesting point. Something that size has to weigh at least 10 to 15 ozs if its solid gold. Could be hollow. Or probably 50% copper with a little silver. How many do they give away each Games? Must be 14Karat.

[Prometheus]

Roughly 70 medals at each level, bronze silver and gold. for the total of about 210 (give or take a few) combined.
medal count I guesstimated from (http://www.nbcolympics.com/medals/1599000/detail.html)


70 gold at atleast 10 ounces 700 ounces... 390k in just melt value gold alone.... Thats alotta hooch!

[SilverNuts@Bolts]

Mostly glass &/or plastic. Wonder, which country started that????