Flown medallion carried on board Gemini 3. Medallion measures approximately one-inch in diameter, with “Virgil I. Grissom, John W. Young, The Molly Brown,” in raised letters on the face, along with an image of the capsule. Medallion is affixed to a 6 x 6 certificate of authenticity signed by Gordon Cooper which reads, “This medallion was carried into space on Gemini 3 flight during March 23, 1965. The flight was the first manned Gemini mission. Gemini 3 was commanded by my good friend Virgil "Gus" Grissom with John Young as pilot. Gus later gave me this medallion after the flight. NASA never approved the name Molly Brown for the spacecraft but I gave my "official" approval by calling to Gus just after launch with ‘You're on your way, Molly Brown!’" Matted to an overall size of 8 x 8. In fine condition. Grissom had lost his Mercury capsule after a short circuit blew the hatch. Molly Brown, the ‘unsinkable’ heroine from the Broadway musical, seemed the best choice for the name of his Gemini spacecraft. NASA never officially named Gemini 3 Molly Brown, but the name was enthusiastically used by the press during coverage of the flight. RR Auction COA.
