OLYMPIC PARTICIPATION MEDALS

Olympic Participation Medals (OPMs) are among the great sports and exonumia collectibles. Awarded to athletes, judges and officials at each Olympic Games, they are keepsakes made for the participants in the games. The production and distribution of OPM's is carefully regulated by the International Olympic Committee, but the host country sees to their design and production. Since the 1896 Athens Games, these medals have been designed by important artists and produced to the highest standards. Because they were minted in such small quantity, few outside of athletes and Olympic officials know of these medals. Fewer still know where or how to find them for their own collections.