The Nobel Prize- Real Gold?

The Nobel Prize is internationally recognized as the prestigious award for recognition in cultural and scientific advancements as well as in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology, Medicine, Literature, and Peace since 1901 . The winner of the Nobel Prize is carefully selected each year, and its winner receives the Gold Nobel Prize medal (along with a hefty sum of cash). But is the “gold” medal real gold after all?

Turns out that the Noble Prize medals of the past were made out of real gold but are not pure gold. The Nobel Prize medals were struck in 23 karat gold, just one karat short of the acceptable 24 karat limit on “pure gold” cartage. Since 1980 and up to today, however the medals consist of 18 karat “Green Gold” and are instead plated with 24 karat gold. The special “green gold” used gives the medals a special look and feel, as well as extra value. Green gold is a mixture of gold and silver that excludes copper alloys, leaving only the precious metals as the foundations of the medal.

Sources:

http://nobelprize.org/

http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/lists/

http://chemistry.about.com/od/metalsalloys/f/nobel-prize-medal.htm