March 2025 Auction Ends Thursday, March 27th, 5pm Pacific
Beautiful charm which spent three days on the lunar surface during the Apollo 16 mission, kept by Charlie Duke in his PPK on the Orion. Custom made 14k gold charm has a ruby cross with four diamonds and the words in French, ''Qu'hier Que Demain'', a love poem translating to ''More than yesterday, less than tomorrow''.
With an LOA from astronaut Charlie Duke certifying the authenticity of the charm and explaining its history. Letter reads in part, ''...The charm was given to me my friend Ron Swim and I promised to carry it to the Lunar Surface and then to return it to Ron to be given to his wife Rosalie. I carried this charm with me and gave it to Rosalie after I returned from the moon.''
He continues, ''Each astronaut was allowed to carry a certain number of personal items that were stored in our Personal Preference Kit (PPK). These items, though personal, were a part of the official stowage list for the Apollo 16 mission. This charm represents one of the most intimate treasures here on Earth of the items that I carried to the surface of the Moon.''
Charm measures 1.25'' in diameter. Minor tarnishing in two spots, overall near fine condition. During the Apollo program, Ronald Swim worked for North American Aviation and then Rockwell International, the company which built the Apollo Command and Service Module.
Apollo 16 Charm, Kept on the Moon for 3 Days -- With COA from Charlie Duke: ''...This charm represents one of the most intimate treasures...that I carried to the surface of the Moon...''
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