Press release -
World’s First Olympic Medal to Be Auctioned at Bruun Rasmussen
A remarkable piece of Olympic history is set to go under the hammer at the Danish auction house Bruun Rasmussen. On 1 March, collectors will have the rare opportunity to bid on what is considered the world’s first Olympic medal, dating back to the first modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896. The medal carries an estimate of EUR 26,000–40,000.
The auction coincides with the Olympic Winter Games currently taking place in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, adding further relevance to this exceptional offering. Medals from the earliest Olympic Games are extremely rare, and examples of this significance rarely appear on the market.
“This is the first time we have ever offered a medal from the very first modern Olympic Games,” says Christian Grundtvig, Head of the Coins and Medals Department at Bruun Rasmussen. “Such medals are exceptionally rare, and for collectors of Olympic memorabilia, this is nothing short of a crown jewel.”
The medal is a winner’s medal from the 1896 Games, when silver medals were awarded to first-place finishers and bronze medals to runners-up. The now-familiar gold medal was introduced only at later Olympic Games.
Engraved by renowned French artist Jules-Clément Chaplain, the medal is rich in classical symbolism. The obverse features a laurel-crowned portrait of the Greek god Zeus, holding a globe topped by Nike, the goddess of victory, carrying an olive branch. The reverse depicts the Acropolis with the Parthenon, accompanied by the Greek inscription “Διεθνείς Ολυμπιακοί Αγώνες – Αθήναι 1896” (International Olympic Games – Athens 1896).
The first modern Olympic Games were held from 6 to 15 April 1896 and brought together 241 athletes from 14 nations, competing in nine sports and 43 events. Denmark was among the participating nations, and Danish weightlifter Viggo Jensen claimed victory, becoming Denmark’s first-ever Olympic champion. It remains unknown whether the medal now offered for sale originally belonged to Jensen.
The medal will be offered at Bruun Rasmussen’s Online Auction on 1 March. Bidding is already open via the auction house’s website. Go via this LINK.
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Bruun Rasmussen has since 1948 sold art, design, jewellery, wristwatches, antiques and collectibles such as wine, books, coins and stamps. As the leading auction house in Denmark, we sell over 75,000 items every year at our Online Auctions at bruun-rasmussen.dk and at Live Auctions at our auction house in Lyngby.
Our specialists are the most experienced and competent in the industry. The work in the auction house places great demands on our knowledge of art and trends on the market. This way, we can provide valuations and advice of the highest quality – which has become our trademark – and thereby offer the best lots from all categories and achieve high hammer prices for the benefit of our customers.
At Bruun Rasmussen, we are one of Europe's most modern and digital auction houses, and it is only natural for us to adapt to changes in the market. Innovation is part of our DNA, while we are also deeply rooted in our history.
In 2022, after having been family-owned through three generations, we became part of the international “Bonhams Network”, expanding our global reach and access to specialists all over the world. We strategically present and sell art where it makes the most sense in relation to potential buyers.
