United States Mint Handover Medallion to be Presented at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games Closing Ceremony
08 Agosto 2024 - 11:55AM
The United States Mint (Mint) announced today that Los Angeles
Mayor Karen Bass will present Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo with the
official LA28 Handover Medallion designed and struck by the Mint to
honor the closing ceremonies of the 2024 Paris Summer Olympic Games
on August 11, as part of a tradition that honors the past while
looking to the future.
A historic tradition during the closing ceremonies, the mayors
of the host cities of the closing and upcoming Olympic Games join
the International Olympic Committee Officials on stage, and the
flag of the games is lowered and passed from mayor to mayor as a
symbolic highlight.
Each host city has historically provided an official gift,
typically a coin or medallion, to serve as both an expression of
goodwill between nations and a signal of a major milestone in the
Games itself. The handover medallion marks the official hand-off of
the Games and celebrates the two cities/countries hosting
them.
“We are proud to have a creative role in celebrating the unique
status of the Olympic Games,” said United States Mint Director
Ventris C. Gibson. “The LA28 Handover Medallion salutes the
remarkable achievement of the Paris 2024 Organizing Committee,
while at the same time represents the excitement of the United
States hosting the Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028.”
Created by the United States Mint, the obverse (heads) of the
99.9% silver medallion is designed by Mint Chief Engraver Joseph
Menna, and the reverse (tails) is designed by Mint Medallic Artist
Phebe Hemphill. The designs recognize the art and culture inspired
by this year’s host city, Paris, and the future host city of the
next Olympiad, Los Angeles.
The obverse design features a stylized depiction of “The Winged
Victory of Samothrace” alongside the inscriptions “PARIS 2024” and
“LOS ANGELES 2028” done in Art Deco and Graffiti Arts style,
respectively.
The reverse design depicts the Arc de Triomphe in the foreground
with the Los Angeles Coliseum centered in the background, a visual
representation of the games transitioning from Paris to Los
Angeles. Centered above the Coliseum is the LA28 Olympic Handover
emblem.
The Secretary of the Treasury authorized the Mint to produce
both the official Handover Medallion as well as additional silver
duplicate medals provided to the United States Olympic and
Paralympic Properties (USOPP) for the purpose of presentation to
dignitaries in conjunction with the closing ceremonies of the 2024
Paris Summer Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.
About the United States MintCongress created
the United States Mint in 1792, and the Mint became part of the
Department of the Treasury in 1873. As the Nation’s sole
manufacturer of legal tender coinage, the Mint is responsible for
producing circulating coinage for the Nation to conduct its trade
and commerce. The Mint also produces numismatic products, including
proof, uncirculated, and commemorative coins; Congressional Gold
Medals; silver and bronze medals; and silver and gold bullion
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no cost to taxpayers.
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