FREE APPRAISAL. To buy, auction, sell or consign your Apollo 17 Robbins Medal that is for sale, please email your description and photos to [email protected] of Nate D. Sanders Auctions (http://www.NateDSanders.com).

Apollo 17 Robbins Medal

Only 80 Apollo 17 Robbins medal coins were flown to the moon, making the Robbins medal from the last flight to the moon the rarest and most expensive.  We sold one for over $56,000.  Nowadays, Robbins medals are quite collectible, but given the rarity of the Apollo 17 Robbins medal, it sells for about 50% more than the most desirable Robbins medal, the more plentiful Apollo 11 Robbins medal.  Here are two Apollo 17 Robbin medals that we have sold:

Jack Swigert’s Own Apollo 17 Flown Robbins Medal, Serial Number 41

Apollo 17 Robbins medal, serial number 41. Sterling silver medal commemorates Apollo 17 as the most recent lunar landing conducted by NASA to date. The mission launched 7 December 1972 and returned safely twelve days later. Pictorial obverse is cast with mission insignia, featuring stylized design elements of the U.S. flag and an eagle, alongside a bust in profile of Greek god Apollo. Figures are set against a detailed space ground featuring the moon and ringed planets. Scene is circumscribed by title, ”Apollo XVII / Cernan-Evans-Schmitt”. Reverse reads, ”Launch / Dec. 6, 1972 / Taurus-Littrow / Dec. 11, 1972 / Entry / Dec. 19, 1972”, circumscribed, ”America – Challenger / Apollo XVII The Beginning”. Coin measures 1.25” and is made of sterling silver, housed in its original ”Robbins Company” plastic box with an ”41” sticker on the bottom. Fine. With an LOA from Apollo 13 astronaut Jack Swigert’s sister.  A superb Apollo 17 Robbins medal flown.  Sold for $56,250.

Apollo 17 Flown Robbins Medallion, Serial #30 — The Scarcest Flown Robbins Medal With Only 80 Flown — From the Personal Collection of Astronaut Story Musgrave and With His LOA

Flown Robbins medal from Apollo 17, one of only 80 flown medallions and therefore the scarcest of the Apollo missions. Medal has the low serial number of 30 stamped on the rim, along with ”F” for flown and the Robbins sterling mark. With the raised mission insignia on the obverse, featuring the profile of Apollo, the Greek sun god, along with the surnames of the crew: Gene Cernan, Ron Evans and Harrison Schmitt. Reverse features the launch, landing and return dates, along with ”Taurus-Littrow”, the landing site on the moon, encircled by ”America XVII”, ”America-Challenger” and ”The Beginning”. Robbins sterling mark and ”F30” appear on the edge. Medallion measures 1.375” in diameter. Near fine condition. From the personal collection of astronaut Story Musgrave and with his LOA. Sold for $26,969.

The following are some additional Robbins medals we have sold from other missions:

Jack Swigert’s 14K Gold Robbins Medal Flown Aboard Apollo 13 — One of Only 2 for Each Astronaut

Jack Swigert’s personally owned Robbins medal struck in 14K gold, flown aboard Apollo 13 where he famously reported, “Houston, we’ve had a problem.” Unlike the silver Robbins medals which number over 400 for the Apollo 13 mission, this very scarce gold Robbins medal is one of only six for each of the three astronauts on the mission, with each astronaut being able to purchase up to two. Like the silver Robbins medals, the original gold medals taken on the space flight were melted down and re-cast with the new design, without the landing date and with Swigert’s name replacing Ken Mattingly. Medal depicts mission insignia, including the name of the mission, three of Apollo’s chariot horses flying toward the Moon, and the slogan ”Ex Luna, Scientia” (from the moon, knowledge). Verso lists the crew members, space modules, and engraved dates of launch and return, as well as “14K r”. Unlike the silver medals, the gold medals were not serialized but it’s known that only six or less were produced. Gold medal measures 1.25” in diameter. In near fine condition. From the estate of Jack Swigert and with an LOA from his sister. Sold for $73,500.

Jack Swigert’s 14K Gold Robbins Medal Flown Aboard Apollo 13 — One of Only 2 Given to Each Astronaut

Jack Swigert’s personally owned Robbins medal struck in 14K gold, flown aboard Apollo 13 where he famously reported, ”Houston, we’ve had a problem.” Unlike the silver Robbins medals which number over 400 for the Apollo 13 mission, this very scarce gold Robbins medal is one of only six given to the three astronauts on the mission, with each astronaut receiving two, intended for him and his wife. Like the silver Robbins medals, the original gold medals taken on the space flight were melted down and re-struck with the new design, without the landing date and with Swigert’s name replacing Ken Mattingly. Medal depicts mission insignia, including the name of the mission, three of Apollo’s chariot horses flying toward the Moon, and the slogan ”Ex Luna, Scientia” (from the moon, knowledge). Verso lists the crew members, space modules, and engraved dates of launch and return, as well as ”14K r”. Unlike the silver medals, the gold medals were not serialized but it’s known that only six were produced. Gold medal measures 1.25” in diameter, housed in its original plastic box. In lustrous, near fine condition. From the estate of Jack Swigert and with an LOA from his sister. Update to description: Up to two gold Robbins medals were made available to each member of the flight crew for purchase, but not every astronaut bought two, so the rarity of this Apollo 13 gold Robbins medal might be scarcer than 1 of 6. Sold for $31,608.

Jack Swigert’s Own Space-Flown Apollo 11 Robbins Medal, Serial Number 179

Rare Apollo 11 Robbins medal, serial number 179. Front of coin has “Apollo 11” engraved above the mission insignia of an eagle landing on the moon’s surface carrying an olive branch. Verso has three dates for the launch, “July 16, 1969”, landing, “July 20, 1969”, and returned, “July 24, 1969”. For the moon landing missions, three blank fields were included for the launch, lunar landing, and return dates and later engraved, as is the case here. Verso also has the “179” serial number engraved with each astronaut’s last name. Coin measures 1.25” and is made of sterling silver, housed in its original ”Robbins Company” plastic box with an “149” sticker on the bottom. One of the most expensive prices obtained for an Apollo 11 Robbins medal.  Fine. With an LOA from Apollo 13 astronaut Jack Swigert’s sister.  Sold for $42,000.

Space-Flown Apollo 11 Robbins Medal — Owned by Buzz Aldrin

Scarce Apollo 11 Robbins medal, with serial number 257, owned by Buzz Aldrin. Front of coin has ”Apollo 11” engraved above the mission insignia of an eagle landing on the moon’s surface carrying an olive branch. Verso has three dates for the launch, ”July 16, 1969”, landing, ”July 20, 1969”, and return, ”July 24, 1969”. For the moon landing missions, three blank fields were included for the launch, lunar landing, and return dates and later engraved, as is the case here. Verso also has the ”257” serial number engraved with each astronaut’s last name. Coin measures 1.125”, made of sterling silver. In very good condition. This Robbins medal was given directly by Buzz Aldrin to the previous owner Bill Tow upon the death of Bill’s father, John Tow, when he was 10 years old. John and his wife Barbara Tow were close to Buzz and Joan Aldrin as they were neighbors on the same military base. Medal is accompanied by two LOAs from Barbara Tow as well as a copy of envelopes and partial letter from Joan Aldrin to Barbara, confirming their relationship. Lot is also accompanied by a signed photo of Buzz Aldrin to Bill Tow, which Mr. Aldrin gave him with the Robbins medal. Sold for $37,813.

Space-Flown Apollo 11 Robbins Medal — Owned by Buzz Aldrin

Scarce Apollo 11 Robbins medal, with serial number 378, owned by Buzz Aldrin. Front of coin has ”Apollo 11” engraved above the mission insignia of an eagle landing on the moon’s surface carrying an olive branch. Verso has three dates for the launch, ”July 16, 1969”, landing, ”July 20, 1969”, and return, ”July 24, 1969”. For the moon landing missions, three blank fields were included for the launch, lunar landing, and return dates and later engraved, as is the case here. Verso also has the ”378” serial number engraved with each astronaut’s last name. Coin measures 1.125”, made of sterling silver. In very good condition. This Robbins medal was given directly by Buzz Aldrin to the previous owner Jack Tow upon the death of Jack’s father, John Tow, when he was a boy. John and his wife Barbara Tow were close to Buzz and Joan Aldrin as they were neighbors on the same military base. Medal is accompanied by two LOAs from Barbara Tow as well as a copy of envelopes and partial letter from Joan Aldrin to Barbara, confirming their relationship. Lot is also accompanied by a signed photo of Buzz Aldrin to Jack Tow, which Mr. Aldrin gave him with the Robbins medal. Sold for $37,500.

Space-Flown Apollo 11 Robbins Medal — Serial Number 60, Given to the Consignor by Buzz Aldrin

Scarce Apollo 11 Robbins medal, with a low serial number of 60, owned by Buzz Aldrin. Front of coin has ”Apollo 11” engraved above the mission insignia of an eagle landing on the moon’s surface carrying an olive branch. Verso has three dates for the launch, ”July 16, 1969”, landing, ”July 20, 1969”, and return, ”July 24, 1969”. For the moon landing missions, three blank fields were included for the launch, lunar landing, and return dates and later engraved, as is the case here. Verso also has the ”60” serial number engraved with each astronaut’s last name. Coin measures 1.125”, made of sterling silver. In very good condition. This Robbins medal was given directly to the consignor by Buzz Aldrin in 1969. Sold for $34,375.

Jack Swigert’s Space-Flown Apollo 11 Robbins Medal, Serial Number 217

Rare Apollo 11 Robbins medal, serial number 217. Front of coin has ”Apollo 11” engraved above the mission insignia of an eagle landing on the moon’s surface carrying an olive branch. Verso has three dates for the launch, ”July 16, 1969”, landing, ”July 20, 1969”, and return, ”July 24, 1969”. For the moon landing missions, three blank fields were included for the launch, lunar landing, and return dates and later engraved, as is the case here. Verso also has the ”217” serial number engraved with each astronaut’s last name. Coin measures 1” and is made of sterling silver, housed in its original ”Robbins Company” plastic box with an ”217” sticker on the bottom. Fine. With an LOA from Apollo 13 astronaut Jack Swigert’s sister. Sold for $34,375.

Apollo 11 Space-Flown Robbins Medal — From the Jack Swigert Estate

Robbins medal flown aboard Apollo 11, the mission that first put humans on the moon on 20 July 1969. Coin includes mission name and depicts the mission insignia of an eagle landing on the moon’s surface carrying an olive branch. Verso has three dates for the launch, ”July 16, 1969”, landing, ”July 20, 1969” and return, ”July 24, 1969”. Verso also has each astronaut’s last name and the ”178” serial number engraved. Coin measures 1”, made of sterling silver and housed in its original ”Robbins Company” plastic box with serial number sticker on the bottom. Condition on this Apollo 11 Robbins medal is a little worse than the first two mentioned above. From the Jack Swigert estate and with an LOA from his sister.  Sold for $25,000.

Gold Robbins Medal #15F, Flown on Columbia STS-1 — Owned by Astronaut Shannon Lucid

Gold Robbins medal flown on Columbia flight STS-1, owned by astronaut Shannon Lucid, veteran of six space shuttle and two Mir missions, and the Chief Scientist of NASA in the early 2000s. 10K gold Robbins medal is marked 15F on rim, one of only 24 gold Robbins medals flown on the very first Space Shuttle mission. The 10K and Robbins hallmarks also appear on rim. Reverse of medal features the names of the astronauts along with “Launched / April 12, 1981 / Landed / April 14, 1981 / RW23 Edwards AFB”, and the front features the Columbia mission insignia in relief. Medal measures 1.5″ in diameter, housed in its original Robbins medal case. Near fine condition. With an LOA from Shannon Lucid. Sold for $24,150.

FREE APPRAISAL. To buy, auction, sell or consign your Apollo 17 Robbins Medal that is for sale, please email your description and photos to [email protected] of Nate D. Sanders Auctions (http://www.NateDSanders.com).

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