Upcoming 2012 May 12 Space Exploration Signature Auction features a number of space-flown medals from astronauts’ personal collections. These medals, graded and encapsulated by NGC, are highly collectible, and should be of considerable interest to many numismatic clients.
Silver Robbins medal from Apollo 11
The top prize from among these medals is a Silver Robbins medal from Apollo 11, one of 450 flown on the mission. Collector interest in the first mission to land on the moon is always high, and this medal is from the family collection of Astronaut Gerald Carr. The obverse carries the original concept for the official insignia, as designed by Michael Collins, the command module pilot. This is one of, if not the only, item to capture the insignia as originally envisioned. The medal has been graded an incredible MS68.
Another particularly nice medal is the Apollo 16 Flown MS66 NGC Silver Robbins Medallion Originally from the Personal Collection of Mission Lunar Module Pilot Charlie Duke. Medals from the personal collections of mission crewmembers bring a real premium from serious collectors. In the last Space auction, there were two instances where a mission member’s medal more than doubled the price of another astronaut’s medal on the identical item. This medal, one of 98 flown on Apollo 16, grades MS66.
Other medals included in Space Exploration Signature Auction include:
- Apollo 10 Flown MS65 NGC Silver Robbins Medallion Originally from the Personal Collection of Astronaut Walt Cunningham, Serial Number 60, with Signed LOA
- Apollo 12 Flown MS66 NGC Silver Robbins Medallion Originally from the Personal Collection of Astronaut Charlie Duke, Serial Number 166, with Signed LOA
- Apollo 13 Flown MS68 NGC Silver Robbins Medallion Originally from the Personal Collection of Mission Lunar Module Pilot Fred Haise, Serial Number 227, with Signed LOA
- Apollo 13 Unflown PF65 Ultra Cameo NGC Franklin Mint Silver Medal Originally from the Personal Collection of Mission Commander James Lovell, Serial Number 0016, with Signed LOA
- Apollo 14 Flown MS66 NGC Silver Robbins Medallion Originally from the Personal Collection of Astronaut Charlie Duke, Serial Number 156, with Signed LOA
- Apollo 15 Flown MS64 NGC Silver Robbins Medallion, Serial Number 126
- Apollo 17 Unflown MS67 NGC Silver Robbins Medallion Originally from the Personal Collection of Astronaut John Young, Serial Number 294, with Signed LOA
- Apollo-Soyuz Test Project Flown MS64 NGC Silver Robbins Medallion Originally from the Personal Collection of Backup Command Module Pilot Ron Evans, Serial Number 52F
Bidding on this auction continues through May 11 on the Heritage website at HA.com/Historical, and on May 12 against the floor at Heritage Live!
