Attractive set of five non-athletic award medals issued for the Paris 1900 Exposition Universelle, which played host to that year's Olympics. Each bronze medal measures 63.5 mm, weighs between 91 gm and 100 gm, and was designed by Jules-Clement Chaplain. The fronts depict a profile view of Marianne, the national symbol of the French Republic; the reverse sides bear an athlete with a torch riding on the back of Nike, the goddess of victory, with a tablet below issuing the medal to its recipient, which read: “R. A. Verron,” “A. Girard,” “Hardy,” “M. Crete & Cie,” and “E. Hubou.” Each is stamped on the edge with the Paris mint's cornucopia symbol and "Bronze." Since this Olympics did not issue participation medals, these non-athletic award medals are used as a placeholder in participation medal collections. With its classic Art Nouveau style, these uncommon awards exist as some of the most aesthetically pleasing of all Olympic-related medals.
