2017-06-03 Sat

440 out of the 450 Apollo 11 medals were sent to space on 16th July 1969. One such Apollo 11 Robbins medals owned by astronaut Buzz Aldrin was sold for $34,375 at Nate D. Sanders Auctions sale on 25th May. The obverse features an Apollo 11 insignia designed by Collins, with the inscription APOLLO 11 and an eagle with an olive branch, landing on Moon, Earth is shown in the background. The medal's reverse features surnames of astronauts, Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins and Aldrin. Dates of the launch, July 16, 1969; landing, July 20, 1969, return, July 24, 1969; and serial number 60 are inscribed on the reverse.

These medals, issued by the Robbins Company have been sent to space on every manned U.S. mission since Apollo 7. They were purchased by the crews and were available for purchase only by NASA astronauts in those days.

For the initial flights, the medals were struck with blank reverses for the launch and return dates to be added later. Three blank fields were left blank for the launch, lunar landing, and return dates. Before the Apollo 7 mission, astronauts used to take with them souvenirs like coins and paper money which have also been auctioned regularly.