The E-Sylum:  Volume 10, Number 35, September 3, 2007, Article 18

2008 OLYMPIC MEDALS TO HAVE JADE INSERTS

Dick Johnson writes: "Surfing the internet this week brought
a rare discovery. I didn't pick it up when it was announced
March 27th this year, but it has great numismatic significance.

"Five hundred days before the opening of the 2008 Olympic
Games in Beijing China, illustrations of the Olympic medals
were released to the press. The medals will bear genuine
jade ring inserts on their reverse. White jade on the gold
medals, light green jade on the silver medals, dark green
jade on the bronze medals. More than 1500 medals are to
be awarded!

"The host country has the obligation and privilege to design
and produce the Olympic award medals. Seldom are they
announced this far in advance. And seldom are they this
distinctive. The medal bears a simple motif with the Beijing
Games logo and the five-ring Olympic symbol as the center
emblem. The medals are struck with a wide rim and a recessed
area between. Here is where a thin circular ring of genuine
jade will be inserted.

"Brilliant. Stunning. Attractive. Distinctive. Appropriate.
I may run out of superlatives. The Chinese designers have
outdone themselves!

"The obverse design is modified from previous Olympic medal
designs. The medal bears an ornate wide loop for the red neck
ribbon inscribed "Beijing 2008" and the 5-ring Olympic logo.

"Medals are numismatics' contribution to the world of art,
where a creative designer can do most anything with a piece
of metal to give it permanent meaning and beauty, ideal for
an award honor or memorable event. My hat is off to the
Chinese who have done this with their Olympic medal. The
winning athletes will be proud to take these medals home
from Beijing.

"I found a web site generated by Richard R. Wertz who
documented all this in one of his Special Reports. It is
in English, illustrated in color, and very enlightening."

For more information and images of the 2008 Beijing Olympic medals, see:
www.ibiblio.org/chinesehistory/contents/07spe/olympics/image.medals.htm.

[Be sure to take a look at the images.  The medals seem nicely
done and I'm willing to bet they'll look even better when seen
in person. -Editor]

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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