Unflown Apollo 15 Robbins Medal, approximately 1.5″ diameter, with a raised design on the face of the Apollo 15 mission insignia. The reverse of the sterling silver medal is engraved "Man's Flight Through Life Is Sustained by the Power of His Knowledge" along with the July 26, 1971, launch date; July 30, 1971, moon landing date; and August 7, 1971, return date. This medal is serial numbered "265" along the edge. Condition is mint state.
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, 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 after Apollo 15 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.
*This item has been pre-certified by a trusted third-party authentication service, and by placing a bid on this item, you agree to accept the opinion of this authentication service. If you wish to have an opinion rendered by a different authenticator of your choosing, you must do so prior to your placing of any bid. RR Auction is not responsible for differing opinions submitted 30 days after the date of the sale.
