Al Worden’s gold NASA astronaut pin, .5″ x .5″, presented to him after successfully serving as the Command Module Pilot of the historic Apollo 15 moon-landing mission. The pin retains its original locking back. In fine condition.
In addition to the astronaut badge, the astronaut pin is also issued to all NASA astronauts and comes in two grades: silver and gold, with the silver pin awarded to candidates who have successfully completed astronaut training, and the gold pin to astronauts who have successfully flown in space. While astronaut candidates are given their silver pins as congratulatory gifts, the gold pins, according to modern tradition, must be purchased at a cost of approximately $400.
Gold astronaut pins represent a uniquely significant totem for all NASA astronauts that have been privileged to travel into space. This particular pin, deriving from the personal collection of one of the just two dozen men to have orbited the moon, is a most precious keepsake, which, in spite of its modest size, would carve out a well-deserved spot in any elite space collection.
From the collection of Apollo 15 CMP Al Worden, and accompanied by a letter of provenance from his daughter Alison (Worden) Penczak.
