2017-05-24 Wed

440 special medals were carried aboard the Apollo 11 by astronaut Michael Collins during the 1969 missions. The 31st, MS 67, .925 fine silver Robbins medal will be offered on sale by RR Auction on 14th June with an estimated value of $30,000+. The obverse features the Apollo 11 mission insignia - an eagle landing on the moon, carrying an olive branch. The reverse features the surnames of Collins, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin; July 16, 1969, launch date; July 20, 1969, moon landing date; and July 24, 1969, return date.

A space-flown sterling silver Apollo 10 Robbins medal of astronaut John Young; Young’s space-flown Robbins medal for Apollo 16; and an unflown Apollo 13 Franklin Mint medal of James Lovell will also be offered at the auction.

These special medals, minted by the Robbins Company, of Attleboro, Mass. have been sent to space through U.S. mission since Apollo 7. They are paid for by the crews and available for only by NASA astronauts at the time.

The first few medals were struck with blank space on the reverse for the launch and return dates to be added post-flight. 3 blank fields were included for the launch, lunar landing, and return dates.