NASA space-flown Gemini and Apollo medallions
![Apollo 11 mission emblem (front). Crew names, dates (launch, lunar landing, and return), and serial number 416 (back)](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6f/Apollo_11_Flown_Silver_Robbins_Medallion_%28SN-416%29.jpg/300px-Apollo_11_Flown_Silver_Robbins_Medallion_%28SN-416%29.jpg)
NASA space-flown Robbins medallions were first struck for the crew of Apollo 7 and launched into space on 11 October 1968. These mission-specific commemorative medallions (often astronaut-designed) were NASA-approved and struck in sterling silver by the Robbins Company of Attleboro, Massachusetts. Since 1968, the crew of every manned NASA spaceflight (i.e., Apollo, Skylab, and the Space Shuttle) have had Robbins medallions struck to commemorate their mission.[1][nb 1]
Space-flown numismatic items
Numismatic souvenirs have accompanied astronauts on nearly every early spaceflight.[3] Mercury astronauts carried small light-weight mementos on their missions, often in the form of US coins or banknotes. On the first sub-orbital flight (Mercury-Redstone 3), Alan Shepard carried with him four one-dollar silver certificates which were subsequently signed by him, other Mercury astronauts, and support staff becoming a short snorter. John Glenn, piloting the first manned U.S. orbital spaceflight Mercury-Atlas 6 also carried several one-dollar silver certificates. Space-flown numismatic items are also known for early Gemini missions. On the first manned Gemini flight (Gemini 3), Grissom and Young brought 50 two-dollar bills.[4] Young also made history for smuggling “contraband” onboard the flight, in the form of a corned-beef sandwich.[5][6][7][8]
Gemini mission space-flown Fliteline medallions
Beginning with the first manned Gemini mission in March, 1965, commemorative medallions were prepared for the astronauts at their request. It is unconfirmed who prepared these early medallions, only that each individual box containing a medallion bore the word “Fliteline”.[9] It is unknown how many gold and silver colored medallions were prepared for each mission, and how many were space-flown versus unflown. Fliteline medallions were prepared for each of the manned Gemini flights, as well as the ill-fated Apollo 1 mission.
Mission | Date | Medallion | Size | Provenance |
---|---|---|---|---|
23 Mar 1965 | ![]() |
[prov 1] | ||
3 Jun 1965 7 Jun 1965 |
![]() |
[prov 2] | ||
21 Aug 1965 29 Aug 1965 |
![]() |
[prov 3] | ||
15 Dec 1965 16 Dec 1965 |
![]() |
[prov 4] | ||
4 Dec 1965 18 Dec 1965 |
![]() |
[prov 5] | ||
16 Mar 1966 17 Mar 1966 |
![]() |
[prov 6] | ||
3 Jun 1966 6 Jun 1966 |
![]() |
[prov 7] | ||
18 Jul 1966 21 Jul 1966 |
![]() |
[prov 8] | ||
12 Sep 1966 15 Sep 1966 |
![]() |
[prov 9] | ||
11 Nov 1966 15 Nov 1966 |
![]() |
[prov 10] |
Apollo mission space-flown Robbins medallions
The Robbins Company was founded in 1892 by jeweler Charles M. Robbins, in Ateleboro, Massachusetts.[20] They began designing and producing commemorative badges for Ohio in 1913,[21] and South Dakota in 1917.[22] In 1935, the first 1,000 badges of a new design for the Federal Bureau of Investigation were produced by Robbins.[23] The Robbins Company also struck the Olympic medals for the 1932 Winter games in Lake Placid, New York.[20]
Robbins medallions
In 1967, the crew of Apollo 7 began working with the Robbins Company to produce commemorative mission medallions.[9][24] Commissioned by the NASA Astronaut Flight Office (AFO), the medallions were financed entirely through the orders placed by astronauts and support crew personnel.[25][24] Only those directly affiliated with the AFO were eligible as purchasers,[26] and they were bound by their employment contract not to commercialize the medallions[27] as NASA was concerned about any appearance that the astronauts might profit from the flown medallions.[28]
One (or more) of the astronauts from the flight crew would work directly with the Robbins Company to design the mission medallion.[24] The basic elements of the medallion design are consistent throughout the Project Apollo series. The main design element along with the mission name is located on the obverse. The names of the flight crew can be found on either the obverse or reverse. The mission dates are located on the reverse. Beginning with Apollo 11, special fields were designed for the reverse of the medallion that allowed for engraved dates of launch, lunar landing, and return. Also on the reverse (or sometimes the edge) is the medallion serial number. The size of most Robbins Apollo medallions falls roughly between a current US quarter (24.3 mm (0.96 in)) and a Kennedy half dollar(30.6 mm (1.20 in)).
Two to three months prior to the scheduled mission, the medallions were struck in sterling silver.[28] but it is unclear whether serial numbers were added pre or post-flight. During flight, the medallions were stored in the Command Service Module during flight. On missions involving a lunar landing, a small number of these were brought to the lunar surface aboard the Lunar Module.[28] After the flight, the flown medallions were returned to the Robbins Company to have the dates engraved and for a final polishing.[28] Except where noted, all medallions struck for Apollo 7–14 were flown,[29] and serial numbers for Apollo 14–17 medallions appear on the rim.[30]
Apollo Robbins medallions were also struck, in very small numbers, in 14k gold.[31][nb 3] These medallions were generally ordered by the mission crew as a personal memento of their flight and were often taken to the lunar surface in the Landing Module.[33] For the duration of the Apollo program, Robbins medallions (3–7 gold and 80–450 silver per mission) were flown into space.[9][34][35]
Mission | Date | Medallion | Flown (Struck) [nb 5] |
Size | Design | Provenance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() |
(unk) |
[prov 11] | ||||
11 Oct 1968 22 Oct 1968 |
![]() |
[nb 7] |
Walter Cunningham[38] | [prov 12] | ||
21 Dec 1968 27 Dec 1968 |
![]() |
Jim Lovell[40] | [prov 13] | |||
3 Mar 1969 13 Mar 1969 |
![]() |
McDivitt, Scott, Schweickart[42] | [prov 14] | |||
18 May 1969 26 May 1969 |
![]() |
Stafford, Young, Cernan[44] | [prov 15] | |||
16 Jul 1969 20 Jul 1969 24 Jul 1969 |
![]() |
(450) [nb 8] |
Michael Collins[46] | [prov 16] | ||
14 Nov 1969 19 Nov 1969 24 Nov 1969 |
![]() |
[nb 9] |
(unk)[49] | [prov 17] | ||
11 Apr 1970 abort 17 Apr 1970 |
![]() |
[nb 10] |
Apollo 13 crew with Lumen Martin Winter[52] | [prov 18] | ||
31 Jan 1971 5 Feb 1971 9 Feb 1971 |
![]() |
Apollo 14 crew with Jean Beaulieu[54][nb 11] | [prov 19] | |||
26 Jul 1971 30 Jul 1971 7 Aug 1971 |
![]() |
(304) [nb 12][nb 13] |
Based on a design by Emilio Pucci[58] | [prov 20] | ||
16 Apr 1972 20 Apr 1972 27 Apr 1972 |
![]() |
(300) |
Apollo 16 crew with Barbara Matelski[60][nb 14] | [prov 21] | ||
7 Dec 1972 11 Dec 1972 19 Dec 1972 |
![]() |
(300) |
Apollo 17 crew[62] | |||
Soyuz |
15 Jul 1975 24 Jul 1975 |
![]() |
(192) |
[prov 22] |
Robbins Apollo medallions at auction
Since 1995 there have been over 500 auction appearances (internet and/or live) of Apollo mission Robbins medallions.[64] Two auction companies account for a majority of the sales: Heritage Auctions (over 200 since 2007)[65] and RR Auction (over 100 since 2011).[66] Between both auction companies, the top 10 prices realized range from US$30,000 to nearly $62,000, all for sterling silver medallions from either Apollo 11 or Apollo 17.[67][68]
References
Footnotes
- ^ Robbins medallions were also struck for the crews of the Expeditions to the International Space Station. Medallions for the first nine expedition crews (2000–04) have been documented.[2]
- ^ All of the Fliteline medallions illustrated in the table are space-flown and their individual histories can be seen under the provenance column notes.
- ^ Gold medallions struck and flown: Apollo 7 (5–7), Apollo 8 (3), Apollo 9 (3), Apollo 10 (4), Apollo 11 (3), Apollo 12 (7), Apollo 13 (6), Apollo 14 (6), Apollo 15 (6), Apollo 16 (5), and Apollo 17 (6).[32]
- ^ All of the Robbins medallions illustrated in the table are space-flown and their individual histories can be seen under the provenance column notes.
- ^ This column represents only the number of silver medallions struck.[32]
- ^ The Apollo 1 medallion was struck by Fliteline, not Robbins. It is presented with the Robbins medallions because of the Apollo project grouping.
- ^ Walt Cunningham had 45 sterling silver re-strikes made the 1970s, numbered 256– 300.[37]
- ^ Serial number 160–69 (the only unflown Apollo 11 medallions) were missing prior to the flight but later turned up in the estate of a NASA maintenance worker.[37]
- ^ Apollo 12 medallions serial number 1–82 were struck using a silver ingot recovered from the Spanish Plate Fleet.[48] They were not stamped as sterling. Numbers 83–262 are stamped sterling.
- ^ Due to both a last minute crew change (Swigert for Mattingly) and the need to abort landing on the lunar surface, the original Apollo 13 flown medallions were returned to the Robbins Company, melted, and re-struck with the flown metal using a new die.[51]
- ^ Jean Beaulieu was an artist for the Kennedy Space Center.
- ^ An ingot of silver from the Spanish Plate Fleet was added to the sterling used to make all 304 Apollo 15 medallions.[56]
- ^ Apollo 15 medallions 1–6 were gold-plated.[57]
- ^ Barbara Matelski was an artist for the Johnson Space Center.
Provenance
- ^ Gordon Cooper[10]
- ^ Ed White, II[11]
- ^ Provenance not reported[12]
- ^ Wally Schirra[13]
- ^ Frank Borman to Joe Garino[14]
- ^ David Scott to Joe Garino[15]
- ^ Gene Cernan[16]
- ^ John Young[17]
- ^ Jack Lousma[18]
- ^ Jim Lovell to Joe Garino[19]
- ^ Flown on Apollo 9 by Jim McDivitt and presented to the family of Edward White II[36]
- ^ Rusty Schweickart[39]
- ^ Rusty Schweickart[41]
- ^ Jim McDivitt (Crew Commander), presented to Wally Schirra[43]
- ^ Rusty Schweickart[45]
- ^ Neil Armstrong (Crew Commander), presented to Wally Schirra[47]
- ^ Pete Conrad (Crew Commander), presented to Jim Rathmann[50]
- ^ Rusty Schweickart[53]
- ^ Rusty Schweickart[55]
- ^ Rusty Schweickart[59]
- ^ John Young (Crew Commander)[61]
- ^ Rusty Schweickart[63]
Notes
- ^ Weinberger 2006, p. 6.
- ^ Weinberger 2006, pp. 67–70.
- ^ Gibbs 2013, p. 14.
- ^ Gibbs 2013, p. 26.
- ^ 50 Years Ago This Week a Sandwich Was Smuggled into Space, Washingtonpost.com, retrieved 5 July 2015
- ^ The Case of the Contraband Corned Beef Sandwich, Discovery.com, retrieved 5 July 2015
- ^ Astronaut John Young Brought a Corned Beef Sandwich into Space, Businessinsider.com, retrieved 5 July 2015
- ^ Composite Air-to-ground and Onboard Voice Tape Transcription of the GT-3 Mission (PDF) (Report). National Astronautics and Space Administration. April 1965. p. 45. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
- ^ a b c Starck 2008, p. 95.
- ^ Gemini 3 Flown Silver Fliteline Medallion Originally from the Collection of Gordon Cooper, Heritage Auctions (HA.com), retrieved 14 April 2015
- ^ Gemini 4 Flown Silver Fliteline Medallion Originally from the Personal Collection of Mission Pilot Ed White II, Heritage Auctions (HA.com), retrieved 14 April 2015
- ^ Gemini 5 Flown Silver Fliteline Medallion, Heritage Auctions (HA.com), retrieved 14 April 2015
- ^ Gemini 6A Flown Silver-Colored Fliteline Medallion, Originally from Wally Schirra's Personal Collection, Heritage Auctions (HA.com), retrieved 14 April 2015
- ^ Gemini 7 Flown Fliteline Gold-Plated Sterling Silver Medallion, Heritage Auctions (HA.com), retrieved 14 April 2015
- ^ Gemini 8 Flown Fliteline Sterling Silver Medallion, Heritage Auctions (HA.com), retrieved 14 April 2015
- ^ Gemini 9A Flown Silver Fliteline Medallion Originally from the Collection of Mission Pilot Gene Cernan, Heritage Auctions (HA.com), retrieved 14 April 2015
- ^ Gemini 10 Flown Fliteline Gold-Colored Medallion Directly from the Personal Collection of Mission Commander John Young, Heritage Auctions (HA.com), retrieved 14 April 2015
- ^ Gemini 11 Flown Sterling Silver Fliteline Medallion Directly from the Personal Collection of Astronaut Jack Lousma, Heritage Auctions (HA.com), retrieved 14 April 2015
- ^ Gemini 12 Flown Fliteline Gold-Plated Sterling Silver Medallion, Heritage Auctions (HA.com), retrieved 14 April 2015
- ^ a b TharpeRobbins 2000.
- ^ Wood 1913, p. 433.
- ^ South Dakota 1917, p. 125.
- ^ Federal Bureau of Investigation 2008, p. 120.
- ^ a b c Weinberger 1999, p. 6.
- ^ Still 1995, p. 194.
- ^ Starck 2008, p. 96.
- ^ Still 1995, p. 195.
- ^ a b c d Weinberger 1999, p. 7.
- ^ Weinberger 1999, pp. 33–36.
- ^ Weinberger 1999, p. 8.
- ^ Numismatic Guarantee Corporation 2007.
- ^ a b Weinberger 1999.
- ^ Weinberger 2006, pp. 19–20.
- ^ Weinberger 1996.
- ^ Weinberger 2006.
- ^ Apollo 1 Silver-Colored Fliteline Medallion Flown on Apollo 9 by Mission Commander Jim McDivitt, Originally from the Ed White II Family Collection, Heritage Auctions (HA.com), retrieved 14 April 2015
- ^ a b Weinberger 2006, p. 19.
- ^ Weinberger 1999, p. 11.
- ^ Apollo 7 Flown Robbins Medallion Directly from the Personal Collection of Astronaut Rusty Schweickart, Serial Number 186, Heritage Auctions (HA.com), retrieved 14 April 2015
- ^ Weinberger 1999, p. 13.
- ^ Apollo 8 Flown Silver Robbins Medallion Directly from the Personal Collection of Astronaut Rusty Schweickart, Serial Number 264, Heritage Auctions (HA.com), retrieved 14 April 2015
- ^ Weinberger 1999, p. 15.
- ^ Apollo 9 Flown Silver Robbins Medallion Originally from the Personal Collection of Mercury Seven Astronaut Wally Schirra, Serial Number 260, Heritage Auctions (HA.com), retrieved 14 April 2015
- ^ Weinberger 1999, p. 17.
- ^ Apollo 10 Flown Silver Robbins Medallion Directly from the Personal Collection of Astronaut Rusty Schweickart, Serial Number 70, Heritage Auctions (HA.com), retrieved 14 April 2015
- ^ Weinberger 1999, p. 19.
- ^ Apollo 11 Flown Silver Robbins Medallion Originally from the Personal Collection of Mercury Seven Astronaut Wally Schirra, Serial Number 416, Heritage Auctions (HA.com), retrieved 14 April 2015
- ^ Weinberger 1999, p. 34.
- ^ Weinberger 1999, p. 21.
- ^ Apollo 12 Flown Silver Robbins Medallion Directly from the Jim Rathmann Collection, Serial Number 1., Heritage Auctions (HA.com), retrieved 14 April 2015
- ^ Weinberger 1999, p. 35.
- ^ Weinberger 1999, p. 23.
- ^ Apollo 13 Flown Silver Robbins Medallion Directly from the Personal Collection of Astronaut Rusty Schweickart, Serial Number 354, Heritage Auctions (HA.com), retrieved 14 April 2015
- ^ Weinberger 1999, p. 25.
- ^ Apollo 14 Flown Silver Robbins Medallion Directly from the Personal Collection of Astronaut Rusty Schweickart, Serial Number 192, Heritage Auctions (HA.com), retrieved 14 April 2015
- ^ Weinberger 2006, p. 20.
- ^ Weinberger 1999, p. 37.
- ^ Weinberger 1999, p. 27.
- ^ Apollo 15 Flown Silver Robbins Medallion Directly from the Personal Collection of Astronaut Rusty Schweickart, Serial Number 092, Heritage Auctions (HA.com), retrieved 14 April 2015
- ^ Weinberger 1999, p. 29.
- ^ Apollo 16 Flown Silver Robbins Medallion Directly from the Personal Collection of Mission Commander John Young, Serial Number 19., Heritage Auctions (HA.com), retrieved 14 April 2015
- ^ Weinberger 1999, p. 31.
- ^ Apollo-Soyuz Test Project Flown Silver Robbins Medallion Directly from the Personal Collection of Astronaut Rusty Schweickart, Heritage Auctions (HA.com), retrieved 22 April 2015
- ^ Robbins medallions sold at auction or identified in private or museum collections, spaceflownartifacts.com, archived from the original on 10 July 2015, retrieved 9 July 2015
- ^ Heritage Auctions search for "flown robbins medallion", Heritage Auctions, archived from the original on 10 July 2015, retrieved 10 July 2015
- ^ RR Auction search for "robbins medal", rrauction.com, retrieved 10 July 2015
- ^ Heritage Auctions search for "flown robbins medallion" (sorted by price), Heritage Auctions, retrieved 10 July 2015
- ^ RR Auction search for "robbins medal" (sorted by price), rrauction.com, retrieved 10 July 2015
Bibliography
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (2008). The FBI: A Centennial History, 1908–2008. U.S. Department of Justice. ISBN 9780160809545.
{{cite book}}
: Invalid|ref=harv
(help) - Gibbs, William T. (6 May 2013). "Collecting the Final Frontier". Coin World. 54. Amos Publishing: 4–5, 14, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 30, 34, and 38.
{{cite journal}}
: External link in
(help); Invalid|publisher=
|ref=harv
(help) - Gibbs, William T. (17 November 2014). "Buzz Aldrin's Space-Flown Medals". Coin World. 55. Amos Publishing: 5, 38.
{{cite journal}}
: External link in
(help); Invalid|publisher=
|ref=harv
(help) - Gibbs, William T. (December 2014). "Space Flown Apollo 11 Medal Sells for $27,500". Coin World. 55. Amos Publishing: 16, 18.
{{cite journal}}
: External link in
(help); Invalid|publisher=
|ref=harv
(help) - Numismatic Guarantee Corporation (7 November 2007), NCG Certifies Medals from the Moon Missions, Numismatic Guarantee Corporation
{{citation}}
: External link in
(help); Invalid|publisher=
|ref=harv
(help) - South Dakota (1917). South Dakota Constitution and the Laws Passed at the Special Session of 1916. Hipple Printing.
{{cite book}}
: Invalid|ref=harv
(help) - Starck, Jeff (3 November 2008). "NASA Joins Race to Conquer the Heavens". Coin World. 49. Amos Publishing: 94–96.
{{cite journal}}
: External link in
(help); Invalid|publisher=
|ref=harv
(help) - Starck, Jeff (19 November 2012). "Auction Offers Space-Flown Medals From Apollo Astronaut". Coin World. 53. Amos Publishing: 5, 48.
{{cite journal}}
: External link in
(help); Invalid|publisher=
|ref=harv
(help) - Still, Russell F. (1995). Relics of The Space Race. PR Products.
{{cite book}}
: Invalid|ref=harv
(help) - TharpeRobbins, TharpeRobbins Company History
- Weinberger, Howard C. (1999). The Robbins Medallions – Flown Treasure from the Apollo Space Program. The Toy Ring Journal, Inc. ISBN 0-9677712-0-X.
{{cite book}}
: Invalid|ref=harv
(help) - Weinberger, Howard C. (2006). Collecting the Robbins Medallions – Flown Treasure from the Manned Space Programs Skylab, Soyuz, STS, and ISS. Asset Alternatives, Inc. ISBN 0-9677712-1-8.
{{cite book}}
: Invalid|ref=harv
(help) - Wood, George H. (1913). Annual Report of the Adjutant General to the Governor of the State of Ohio. The Springfiled Publishing Company.
{{cite book}}
: Invalid|ref=harv
(help)