Rare commemorative medal issued for the inaugural Olympic Congress, which was held in Paris in June 1894. Bronze, 51 mm, 56 gm, by Huguenin. The front features a cluster of leaves with wrapped scroll and a central tablet with raised date, “23 Juin 1894,” and the reverse bears an additional branch and leaves with embossed text in French (translated): “The International Congress of Paris Proclaims the Restoration of the Olympic Games.” Stamped “Bronze” on the edge. Includes the original maroon paper box.
On June 16, 1894, the first Olympic Congress was declared open in the auditorium of the Sorbonne University in Paris. A week later on June 23rd, Pierre de Coubertin’s Olympic dream became a reality when a resolution to revive the Olympic Games was adopted unanimously at the group’s final meeting. The Congress led to the establishment of the International Olympic Committee, of which Coubertin became general secretary and later president, and to the naming of the first modern Olympic Games, which would take place in Athens two years later. A rare opportunity to own the first medal of the modern Olympic tradition.
