Olympic gold medals are mostly made of silver and contain only 6 grams of real gold.

The composition of Olympic medals is strictly regulated by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Charter. According to these rules, gold medals must be at least 92.5% silver, commonly known as sterling silver, and must be plated with at least 6 grams of pure gold. This regulation ensures a level of consistency across different host cities while managing the immense financial burden of producing hundreds of medals.If a modern Olympic gold medal weighing approximately 556 grams were made of solid 24-karat gold, its raw material value would exceed $40,000 based on current market prices. By using a silver core, the production cost per medal is reduced to approximately $950. The silver used is typically sourced from recycled electronics or mining byproducts to promote sustainability, a major theme in recent games like Tokyo 2020.The transition away from solid gold occurred after the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm, Sweden. During those games, the medals were significantly smaller but made of solid gold. However, as the number of events and athletes grew throughout the 20th century, the cost of using solid gold became prohibitive for host nations. Today, the silver core provides the necessary weight and durability while the gold plating maintains the prestigious appearance expected of the world's highest athletic honor.