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Gold Medal Facts: Is a gold medal made entirely of gold? Find out how many grams of gold it contains, its total weight, and its actual value.

Gold Medal Facts: Whenever an athlete wins a gold medal at the Olympics, the Commonwealth Games, or any major international tournament, people assume the medal is made entirely of gold. However, few people know the truth. In reality, modern-day gold medals contain very little pure gold; the majority of the medal is made of silver.

How much gold is in a gold medal?

According to the rules of the International Olympic Committee, a modern Olympic gold medal must contain at least 92.5% silver. A layer of at least 6 grams of pure gold is plated over this. This means that a medal referred to as a "gold medal" actually contains only about 6 grams of gold.

Then, what metal makes up the rest of the medal?

The bulk of the gold medal is made from high-quality silver. Typically, the total weight ranges between 500 and 550 grams, consisting of approximately 500 grams of silver with a gold plating. That is why it has a golden sheen, even though it is not made entirely of gold.

Was it always this way?

No. In the history of the modern Olympics, winners were awarded medals made entirely of gold only up until the 1912 Stockholm Olympics. Subsequently, due to the rising price and cost of gold, the design was changed; now, they are created by plating gold onto silver.

How much is a gold medal worth?

The value of a gold medal fluctuates based on the price of gold. Since it contains only about 6 grams of gold and the rest is silver, its value—based on the metal content—is not as high as that of a medal made entirely of gold.