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Apollo 12 Flown 'Spanish Fleet' Robbins Medal 'Wives-Pin'

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:7,000.00 - 9,000.00 USD
Apollo 12 Flown 'Spanish Fleet' Robbins Medal 'Wives-Pin'

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Auction Date:2018 Apr 19 @ 18:00 (UTC-05:00 : EST/CDT)
Location:236 Commercial St., Suite 100, Boston, Massachusetts, 02109, United States
ALS - Autograph Letter Signed
ANS - Autograph Note Signed
AQS - Autograph Quotation Signed
AMQS - Autograph Musical Quotation Signed
DS - Document Signed
FDC - First Day Cover
Inscribed - “Personalized”
ISP - Inscribed Signed Photograph
LS - Letter Signed
SP - Signed Photograph
TLS - Typed Letter Signed
Scarce and desirable flown Apollo 12 Robbins medal struck from silver recovered from the wreck of the 1715 Spanish Plate Fleet. The medal measures approximately 1.25? in diameter, and features a raised design of the Apollo 12 mission insignia on the face, which has been inset with a diamond. The reverse is engraved with the launch date of November 14, 1969, moon landing date of November 19, 1969, and return date of November 24, 1969; a pin has also been applied to the reverse. The medal is serial numbered "55." In fine condition.

For the Apollo 12 Robbins medals, Charles Conrad acquired a silver ingot from the famed 'Spanish Plate Fleet' shipwreck of 1715 and sent it to Robbins to be used in the production of their medallions. Although Robbins produced 262 Apollo 12 medallions, only the first 82 were struck from the Spanish treasure; the remaining 180 were made with sterling silver. As the Spanish silver is more pure than sterling, the first 82 medallions minted lack the typical sterling hallmark. Following the mission, 22 of these flown medallions were returned to the Robbins company to be turned into 'wives pins.' They were converted by adding a silver pin to the medallion's back, and setting a small diamond on the medallion's face to represent the Apollo 12 landing site. The pins were created primarily for use by the astronauts' wives, so that they might be easily worn. In addition to the unique format of this flown medallion as a 'wives pin,' it is an exceptionally desirable 'Spanish Plate Fleet' example—a symbolic connection between the exploration of sea and space.