Apollo 8 Flown Silver Robbins Medallion Originally from the Personal Collection of Mercury Seven Astronaut Wally Schirra, Seri...
Description
Presented to Wally Schirra by Apollo 8 Commander Frank Borman.
Apollo 8 Flown Silver Robbins Medallion Originally from the Personal Collection of Mercury Seven Astronaut Wally Schirra, Serial Number 294, with LOA. This sterling silver 38mm x 30mm triangular-shaped medal was one of 300 flown on Apollo 8, December 21-27, 1968, into lunar orbit with crewmembers Borman, Lovell, and Anders. The obverse of the medal features the mission insignia (a Lovell design) depicting a figure eight containing the surnames of the crew looping around the Earth and the moon symbolizing the mission number as well as the mission's orbits around both bodies. The three-sided shape with a rounded bottom imitates the shape of the Apollo spacecraft. The reverse has the engraved dates of the mission, serial number, and the sterling and Robbins hallmarks. These three men were the first ever to escape Earth's gravity and to see the "dark side of the moon." Original case with numbered sticker on the bottom included (top cracked). Excellent condition. From the Steven R. Belasco Collection of Space Memorabilia.This was part of Wally Schirra's complete collection of Apollo Robbins medals sold together at a Christie's East auction on September 18, 1999, Lot 90. Note that we are offering all eleven of his medals in this auction.
Included with this lot is a copy of a signed Letter of Authenticity from Wally Schirra on his letterhead stating that each of his medallions were given to him by the mission commander. That would be Frank Borman in this instance. The full text of the letter is viewable online.
More Information:
Text of Schirra's Letter of Authenticity for His
Collection of Robbins Medals.
Enclosed is a complete
set of Apollo sterling silver Robbins mission emblem medallions.
Each was flown on their respective mission. Robbins began making
these with my Apollo 7 flight. The following Apollo crews carried
on the tradition and had medallions made for there [sic] flights as
well. The commander for each flight after Apollo 7 gave me a flown
medallion in order that I might have a complete set. I have listed
the missions and medallion serial numbers below:
Apollo 7 #87
Apollo 8 #294
Apollo 9 #260
Apollo 10 #52
Apollo 11 #416
Apollo 12 #206
Apollo 13 #348
Apollo 14 #298
Apollo 15 #273
Apollo 16 no number
Apollo 17 #232
[signed] Walter M Schirra
Walter M. Schirra
Captain USN, (Ret.)
Mercury, Gemini
and Apollo Astronaut
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