Flight-flown Apollo 7 Robbins Medal, approximately 1.25 x 1, with a raised design on the face of the mission insignia—a capsule orbiting Earth, the mission number, and the last names of crew members Wally Schirra, Donn Eisele, and Walt Cunningham. The reverse of the sterling silver medal is engraved “Oct. 11, 1968” and numbered “71 of 255.” Normal condition. This was the very first Robbins Medal, designed for the Apollo 7 mission for Cunningham who wanted a special memento to take on the mission. The flown treasure proved so popular that every mission into space since has carried on the tradition. Made by the Robbins Company of Attleboro, Massachusetts, astronauts who are in line for a flight have the option of purchasing the medallions for themselves, family, and friends as personal souvenirs. The medals are made available only to the astronauts. At the conclusion of a flight, the tokens are sent back to Robbins, where they are engraved on the reverse, polished, numbered, and returned to the astronauts. The dyes are later destroyed. Remarkably scarce flight-flown mementos such as this rarely find their way to the marketplace. Accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from Joe Garino, Jr., former NASA physical conditioning supervisor. RRAuction COA.
