To winners, an Academy Award is invaluable.

However, if we look at it from a practical angle, the production cost of an Oscar statue is around $400, as reported by CBS News. Since 2016, these gold-plated awards have been minutely crafted at UAP Polich Tallix foundry in Rock Tavern, New York. The creation process starts with 3-D models, which are then cast in wax and wrapped in ceramic shells. The entire process to make 50 statuettes takes close to three months.

This is just a glimpse into the Oscar’s rich legacy, which holds the potential to significantly alter the careers of actors and filmmakers alike, despite having a minimal market worth. Here are some intriguing facts about the iconic trophy:

What is an Oscar’s worth?

Even though it is the most coveted award in Hollywood, an Oscar trophy officially holds a value of just $1. The Academy’s rules state that winners cannot sell or dispose of the Oscar statuette without first offering it to the Academy for that nominal amount. This rule also applies to heirs of any deceased winner who inherits the award.

What is the reason Oscar winners can’t sell their trophies?

To maintain the dignity of the Oscar symbol, the Academy prohibits winners from making a profit by selling their trophies, as noted on their website. This regulation to prevent resale does not apply to Oscars awarded before 1951, the year the rule was instituted. For instance, Michael Jackson bought the best picture Oscar awarded to producer David O. Selznick for the 1939 film “Gone With the Wind” at an auction for $1.54 million in 1999.

Nevertheless, exceptions do occur. In 2014, the Academy took legal action against Joseph Tutalo, whose uncle, art director Joseph Wright, received an Oscar for the film “My Gal Sal” in 1942. Tutalo tried to sell the statue through an auction house. However, because Wright was still an Academy member when the resale regulations were proposed in 1951, the rules applied to him as well. A judge in California ruled in favor of the Academy, leading to the auction winner returning Wright’s accolade.

What materials are Oscars made from?

According to the Academy, the statues are produced from liquid bronze and coated in 24-karat gold. However, due to a shortage of metals during World War II, there was a span of three years where the awards were crafted from painted plaster. After the war concluded, winners were permitted to exchange their plaster Oscars for gold-plated versions.

What are the dimensions of an Oscar?

The Oscar stands at 13½ inches high and weighs 8½ pounds, as stated by the Academy. Since the first Oscars ceremony in 1929, more than 3,000 statuettes have been awarded, with the silent film “Wings,” starring Clara Bow, taking home the best picture title.

What does the Oscar statue represent?

The statuette was created to depict a knight wielding a crusader’s sword, standing atop a film reel, according to the Academy. Its formal designation is the Academy Award of Merit, although it has been popularly referred to as “Oscar” since the mid-1930s. The exact reason for this nickname is unclear, but it is commonly believed to originate from Academy librarian Margaret Herrick, who thought the statue reminded her of her Uncle Oscar.