As the world entered the 20th century, the city of Paris, France had the honor of not only holding the World’s Fair, but also the Olympic Games.  Offered here is one of the rare artifacts from those early Olympics, a gold medal from motor racing. Designed by Frederic Vernon this gilt silver medal with gold covering depicts a winged goddess holding laurel branches in both hands with her arms raised. “REPUBLIQUE FRANCAIS” is etched across the top, with “EXPOSITION INTERSELLE” etched on the center right side and “PARIS 1900” etched on the center left. In the background and underneath, a view of the city of Paris and the monuments of the Universal Exhibition. The reverse has a victorious athlete standing on a podium, holding a laurel branch in his right hand with his arm raised. In the background is a stadium and the Acropolis of Athens, with “CONCOURS D’AUTOMOBILES” etched on the athlete’s podium. The medal measures approximately 1 ½ x 2 ¼ inches.

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