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A worker from the Casa da Moeda do Brasil (Brazilian Mint) checks plates to prepare the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic medals in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 28, 2016. The Casa da Moeda do Brasil is the Brazilian mint, owned by the Brazilian government and administratively subordinated to the Ministry of Finances. (Photo by Sergio Moraes/Reuters)

Ask athletes what goes into Olympic gold medals, and they will likely say sweat and years of training. For Brazil's National Mint the answer is simpler: recycled silver. The 500-gram Olympic gold medals that athletes will be competing for in Rio de Janeiro are nearly 99 percent silver. They contain just 1.2 percent gold, mostly used as plating. The medals are the most sustainable in Olympic history. Much of the silver is recycled from old mirrors and X-ray plates. The gold is free of mercury, which is often used to separate gold from ore and can poison local ecosystems if not carefully disposed of. Nike, the winged goddess of victory in Ancient Greece, is minted on one side below the five Olympic rings, while the discipline for which the medal has been won is engraved along its edge. The other side bears the Rio 2016 logo. Here: A worker from the Casa da Moeda do Brasil (Brazilian Mint) checks plates to prepare the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic medals in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 28, 2016. The Casa da Moeda do Brasil is the Brazilian mint, owned by the Brazilian government and administratively subordinated to the Ministry of Finances. It was established in 1694. It produces legal tender coins and banknotes. It also produces medals and security prints (i.e., passports, subway tokens, postage stamps) that are used and issued by government-run service providers. Having the highest technology and production capacity in South America, until the 1980s it also produced coins, banknotes and passports for several South American and African countries that lacked a similar facility. (Photo by Sergio Moraes/Reuters)



Workers from the Casa da Moeda do Brasil (Brazilian Mint) prepare the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic medals in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 28, 2016. (Photo by Sergio Moraes/Reuters)

Workers from the Casa da Moeda do Brasil (Brazilian Mint) prepare the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic medals in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 28, 2016. (Photo by Sergio Moraes/Reuters)



A worker from the Casa da Moeda do Brasil (Brazilian Mint) pours molten metal into a mold to prepare the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic medals in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 28, 2016. (Photo by Sergio Moraes/Reuters)

A worker from the Casa da Moeda do Brasil (Brazilian Mint) pours molten metal into a mold to prepare the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic medals in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 28, 2016. (Photo by Sergio Moraes/Reuters)



Nelson Carneiro, craftsman from the Casa da Moeda do Brasil (Brazilian Mint) works on the Rio 2016 Olympic medal mold in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 28, 2016. (Photo by Sergio Moraes/Reuters)

Nelson Carneiro, craftsman from the Casa da Moeda do Brasil (Brazilian Mint) works on the Rio 2016 Olympic medal mold in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 28, 2016. (Photo by Sergio Moraes/Reuters)



Nelson Carneiro, craftsman from the Casa da Moeda do Brasil (Brazilian Mint) works on the Rio 2016 Olympic medal mold in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 28, 2016. (Photo by Sergio Moraes/Reuters)

Nelson Carneiro, craftsman from the Casa da Moeda do Brasil (Brazilian Mint) works on the Rio 2016 Olympic medal mold in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 28, 2016. (Photo by Sergio Moraes/Reuters)



The Rio 2016 Olympic medals are pictured at the  Casa da Moeda do Brasil (Brazilian Mint) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 28, 2016. (Photo by Sergio Moraes/Reuters)

The Rio 2016 Olympic medals are pictured at the Casa da Moeda do Brasil (Brazilian Mint) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 28, 2016. (Photo by Sergio Moraes/Reuters)



A worker from the Casa da Moeda do Brasil (Brazilian Mint) prepare Rio 2016 Olympic medals in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 28, 2016. (Photo by Sergio Moraes/Reuters)

A worker from the Casa da Moeda do Brasil (Brazilian Mint) prepare Rio 2016 Olympic medals in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 28, 2016. (Photo by Sergio Moraes/Reuters)



A sculptress from the Casa da Moeda do Brasil (Brazilian Mint) works on the Rio 2016 Olympic medal at her computer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 28, 2016. (Photo by Sergio Moraes/Reuters)

A sculptress from the Casa da Moeda do Brasil (Brazilian Mint) works on the Rio 2016 Olympic medal at her computer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 28, 2016. (Photo by Sergio Moraes/Reuters)



A worker from the Casa da Moeda do Brasil (Brazilian Mint) prepares a Rio 2016 Paralympic medal in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 28, 2016. (Photo by Sergio Moraes/Reuters)

A worker from the Casa da Moeda do Brasil (Brazilian Mint) prepares a Rio 2016 Paralympic medal in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 28, 2016. (Photo by Sergio Moraes/Reuters)



A sculptress from the Casa da Moeda do Brasil (Brazilian Mint) works on the Rio 2016 Olympic medal at her computer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 28, 2016. (Photo by Sergio Moraes/Reuters)

A sculptress from the Casa da Moeda do Brasil (Brazilian Mint) works on the Rio 2016 Olympic medal at her computer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 28, 2016. (Photo by Sergio Moraes/Reuters)



A worker from the Casa da Moeda do Brasil (Brazilian Mint) prepares Rio 2016 Olympic medals in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 28, 2016. (Photo by Sergio Moraes/Reuters)

A worker from the Casa da Moeda do Brasil (Brazilian Mint) prepares Rio 2016 Olympic medals in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 28, 2016. (Photo by Sergio Moraes/Reuters)



A worker from the Casa da Moeda do Brasil (Brazilian Mint) prepares Rio 2016 Olympic medals in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 28, 2016. (Photo by Sergio Moraes/Reuters)

A worker from the Casa da Moeda do Brasil (Brazilian Mint) prepares Rio 2016 Olympic medals in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 28, 2016. (Photo by Sergio Moraes/Reuters)



A worker from the Casa da Moeda do Brasil (Brazilian Mint) takes out gold-plated Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic medals in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 28, 2016. (Photo by Sergio Moraes/Reuters)

A worker from the Casa da Moeda do Brasil (Brazilian Mint) takes out gold-plated Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic medals in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 28, 2016. (Photo by Sergio Moraes/Reuters)



A worker from the Casa da Moeda do Brasil (Brazilian Mint) shows a Rio 2016 Olympic medal in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 28, 2016. (Photo by Sergio Moraes/Reuters)

A worker from the Casa da Moeda do Brasil (Brazilian Mint) shows a Rio 2016 Olympic medal in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 28, 2016. (Photo by Sergio Moraes/Reuters)



Workers from the Casa da Moeda do Brasil (Brazilian Mint) prepare Rio 2016 Paralympic medals in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 28, 2016. (Photo by Sergio Moraes/Reuters)

Workers from the Casa da Moeda do Brasil (Brazilian Mint) prepare Rio 2016 Paralympic medals in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 28, 2016. (Photo by Sergio Moraes/Reuters)



A worker from the Casa da Moeda do Brasil (Brazilian Mint) cleans a Rio 2016 Olympic medal in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 28, 2016. (Photo by Sergio Moraes/Reuters)

A worker from the Casa da Moeda do Brasil (Brazilian Mint) cleans a Rio 2016 Olympic medal in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 28, 2016. (Photo by Sergio Moraes/Reuters)



A worker from the Casa da Moeda do Brasil (Brazilian Mint) checks a Rio 2016 Paralympic medal in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 28, 2016. (Photo by Sergio Moraes/Reuters)

A worker from the Casa da Moeda do Brasil (Brazilian Mint) checks a Rio 2016 Paralympic medal in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 28, 2016. (Photo by Sergio Moraes/Reuters)



A worker from the Casa da Moeda do Brasil (Brazilian Mint) varnishes a Rio 2016 Olympic medal in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 28, 2016. (Photo by Sergio Moraes/Reuters)

A worker from the Casa da Moeda do Brasil (Brazilian Mint) varnishes a Rio 2016 Olympic medal in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 28, 2016. (Photo by Sergio Moraes/Reuters)



A worker from the Casa da Moeda do Brasil (Brazilian Mint) cleans a Rio 2016 Olympic medal in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 28, 2016. (Photo by Sergio Moraes/Reuters)

A worker from the Casa da Moeda do Brasil (Brazilian Mint) cleans a Rio 2016 Olympic medal in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 28, 2016. (Photo by Sergio Moraes/Reuters)



A worker from the Casa da Moeda do Brasil (Brazilian Mint) cleans a Rio 2016 Olympic medal in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 28, 2016. (Photo by Sergio Moraes/Reuters)

A worker from the Casa da Moeda do Brasil (Brazilian Mint) cleans a Rio 2016 Olympic medal in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 28, 2016. (Photo by Sergio Moraes/Reuters)



A worker from the Casa da Moeda do Brasil (Brazilian Mint) prepares a Rio 2016 Olympic medal in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 28, 2016. (Photo by Sergio Moraes/Reuters)

A worker from the Casa da Moeda do Brasil (Brazilian Mint) prepares a Rio 2016 Olympic medal in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 28, 2016. (Photo by Sergio Moraes/Reuters)



A worker from the Casa da Moeda do Brasil (Brazilian Mint) holds a Rio 2016 Olympic medal in an acid bath in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 28, 2016. (Photo by Sergio Moraes/Reuters)

A worker from the Casa da Moeda do Brasil (Brazilian Mint) holds a Rio 2016 Olympic medal in an acid bath in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 28, 2016. (Photo by Sergio Moraes/Reuters)



A worker from the Casa da Moeda do Brasil (Brazilian Mint) prepares a Rio 2016 Olympic medal in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 28, 2016. (Photo by Sergio Moraes/Reuters)

A worker from the Casa da Moeda do Brasil (Brazilian Mint) prepares a Rio 2016 Olympic medal in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 28, 2016. (Photo by Sergio Moraes/Reuters)



A worker from the Casa da Moeda do Brasil (Brazilian Mint) takes out gold-plates Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic medals in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 28, 2016. (Photo by Sergio Moraes/Reuters)

A worker from the Casa da Moeda do Brasil (Brazilian Mint) takes out gold-plates Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic medals in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 28, 2016. (Photo by Sergio Moraes/Reuters)



The Rio 2016 gold Olympic medal is pictured at the  Casa da Moeda do Brasil (Brazilian Mint) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 28, 2016. (Photo by Sergio Moraes/Reuters)

The Rio 2016 gold Olympic medal is pictured at the Casa da Moeda do Brasil (Brazilian Mint) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 28, 2016. (Photo by Sergio Moraes/Reuters)



A machine works on a Rio 2016 Olympic medal at the Casa da Moeda do Brasil (Brazilian Mint) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 28, 2016. (Photo by Sergio Moraes/Reuters)

A machine works on a Rio 2016 Olympic medal at the Casa da Moeda do Brasil (Brazilian Mint) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 28, 2016. (Photo by Sergio Moraes/Reuters)



A worker from the Casa da Moeda do Brasil (Brazilian Mint) takes out gold-plated Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic medals in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 28, 2016. (Photo by Sergio Moraes/Reuters)

A worker from the Casa da Moeda do Brasil (Brazilian Mint) takes out gold-plated Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic medals in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 28, 2016. (Photo by Sergio Moraes/Reuters)
30 Jun 2016 11:31:00