Athens 1896 Winner's medal, 2nd place, bronze. The Monnaie de Paris had made a speciality of prize medals, and it was this institution that was commissioned to create the prizes for the first modern Olympic Games. The artist Jules-Clément Chaplain was known and appreciated for his knowledge of ancient Greek art. In 1870, he had been commissioned with French archaeologist Albert Dumont to carry out a study of ancient vases. A silver medal was awarded for the first prize and a bronze medal for the second; there was no medal for the third ranked. In addition to the medals, the winners received an olive branch and a diploma. The official report of these Games mentioned the presentation of the medals by George I of Greece. After the reading an of ode in ancient Greek composed by Professor George Stuart Robertson of Oxford University, the King congratulated each medallist and then presented them with their prizes.