Edgar Mitchell’s unflown sterling silver Apollo 15 Robbins Medal, approximately 1.5˝ diameter, with a raised design on the face of the Apollo 15 mission insignia—three stylized birds soaring over the moon's Hadley-Apennine region, encircled by the names of the mission and crew. The reverse reads, "Man's Flight Through Life Is Sustained by the Power of His Knowledge," and is engraved with the launch date of July 26, 1971; moon landing date of July 30, 1971; and return date of August 7, 1971. The medallion is serial numbered "232" and stamped on the edge with the Robbins "Sterling" hallmark. Condition is mint state. Includes its original matching plastic case.
Due to weight restrictions, only the first 127 of 304 minted Robbins medals were carried into space during the Apollo 15 mission. Prior to the mission, however, CMP Al Worden acquired an ingot of silver salvaged from the Spanish 'Plate Fleet' that was sunk in 1715 off the Florida coast. Dave Scott carried this ingot in his PPK during the mission, and, following splashdown, the unflown Robbins medallions and the silver ingot were returned to the Robbins company, melted down together, and restruck. In spite of its unflown status, this Robbins medal contains a significant percentage of silver that was indeed flown on the Apollo 15 mission.
Accompanied by a letter of authenticity from Karlyn Mitchell, the daughter of Edgar Mitchell.
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