This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/10/2017
Inspired by the games of the ancient Greeks, held in Olympia from the 8th century BC to the 4th century AD, 14 nations and 241 athletes came to Athens in 1896 to compete in 43 events in what is now known as the founding of the modern Olympic Games. At its conclusion, it was decided that in the spirit of world unity, a new Olympiad would be held every four years at a different host city around the world. So in 1900, in conjunction with the International Exposition (later known as the World's Fair), the Games of the Second Olympiad were held in Paris, France. The games were expanded to 85 events with 997 members from 24 nations participating. Unlike the first Olympiad, women were permitted to compete (22 participated) and several "exhibition events" were added for the Paris Olympiad that never appeared again in subsequent contests. One of those categories was auto racing, which was gaining world popularity with the advancement of the automobile. One winner of the 14 automobile events was French automobile pioneer Louis Renault, who founded what is now the 10th largest automobile maker in the world. Already a professional, Renault received prize money rather than a gold medal like the 22K solid gold piece offered here. If there was any doubt that auto racing was considered the up and coming event of the 20th Century, consider that the prize for track and field winners was a silver medal plated in gold while auto racing victors got the real thing, a designed plaque that was 50% larger in comparison and almost 92% pure gold. The plaque measures 58 x 41 x 3 mm., weighs approximately 3.3 ounces and is stamped "OR" on the edge (French for "gold"). Designed by Frédéric Charles Victor de Vernon and produced by the Paris Mint, one side has an athlete standing at the podium above the words "CONCOURS D’AUTOMOBILES" (Automobile Contest) with Nike, the Greek goddess of victory on the other side, along with “REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE – PARIS 1900 – EXPOSITION UNIVERSELLE." Designer "F. Vernon" is engraved in the lower right corner. Included is the original lined presentation box with a push clasp that opens it. This was the only Olympics that issued metal plaques to its victors, and of the few surviving specimens, none compare in quality to this NM to NM/MT specimen.