The second modern Olympic Games were held in Paris during the summer of 1900. For the first time, the games were held in conjunction with the World’s Fair and the events ran from May through October. 19 different sports were showcased including four rowing events. Unlike today’s Olympics, not all winners at the 1900 Games received medals, with many receiving trophies and some even cash prizes. The winners of the rowing events were ones who did receive actual medals, as this silver example demonstrates. While we cannot discern what particular rowing event it was awarded for, there are four possibilities: single skulls (silver to France), coxed pairs (silver to France), coxed fours (silver to Netherlands) and the eight man boats (silver to Belgium). The medal was designed by sculptor Frédéric Vernon and is the only square-shaped medal produced for the Olympics. The front features a winged goddess with raised arms holding laurel branches with the city of Paris behind her. The reverse depicts a victorious athlete holding a laurel branch before the Acropolis in Athens, standing on a podium inscribed with “RÉGATES A L’ AVIRON” which translates to “rowing regatta,” as the Olympic rowing events were called. The edge is hallmarked with "BRONZE." Measuring approximately 1 ½ x 2 ¼ inches, the medal is in excellent condition with just light wear from age. An absolutely outstanding example of one of the earliest Olympic medals.

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