The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games Medals, supported by Rio Tinto, were on display at the British Museum as part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad

The story of the production of the medals for the London 2012 games offering the public a unique opportunity to see close-up, the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic medals.

Winning an Olympic or Paralympic Games medal is the ultimate ambition of athletes around the world. The London 2012 Olympic Games medal design is by renowned jeweller David Watkins, who was for many years professor of Goldsmithing, Silversmithing, Metalwork and Jewellery at London’s Royal College of Art. The London 2012 Paralympic Games medal was created by Lin Cheung, also a jeweller and practising artist. She is also a Senior Lecturer for Jewellery Design at London’s Central Saint Martin’s College of Art and Design.

Metals for the medals were mined and processed at Rio Tinto’s operations – Kennecott Utah Copper in the United States and Olu Tolgoi in Mongolia – and the medals themselves struck at the Royal Mint in Wales.

From the first modern Olympic Games in 1896, medals have been awarded to winning athletes. These medals are the modern equivalents of the olive wreaths won at the ancient Olympic Games.

The exhibition ran from September 2011 to September 2012, and told the story Britain has played in the modern Olympic Games.

The medals were displayed in TESS Evolution modular showcases. These cases were chosen because they met the strict security requirements, were cost effective and could be installed quickly.

Department of Exhibitions
The British Museum