Options
SkyMan has been building a "set". (Caution, many pix).
SkyMan
Posts: 9,493 ✭✭✭✭✭
There have been a lot of space flown numismatic items that have hit the market in the last couple of months. Three gold coins have cropped up. Two of them, both quarter eagles (and both with condition issues), flew on Gemini 4. One, a 1907 Liberty, went for $4,930 (all prices include commission), and the other, a 1910 Indian, went for $3,346. Having these two coins come out bummed my jets, as up to that point in time I was only aware of 1 flown quarter eagle on Gemini 4... my 1902. C'est la vie.
There was also a, theoretically, flown to the lunar surface on Apollo 17, $20 Saint Gaudens. I don't know the date, as it was mounted with the reverse side showing. This coin got withdrawn at the last minute, as there were some issues swirling around in the background.
Robbins medallions (which started being carried aboard missions with Apollo 7) have gotten (for the most part) smoking hot. Prices are escalating dramatically, particularly on the Apollo 17 medallions, which a couple of years ago you could have bought for ~ $20,000, while the most recent one to cross the block went for ~ $65,000.
A variety of astronaut signed (but unflown) $1 bills have hit the market. Last week I bid ~ $5,500 (which was comfortably over the high end estimate) on a neat silver certificate signed by Neal Armstrong, Alan Shepard and Chuck Yeager. The bill ended up going for ~ $9,300. Oh well.
For those of you interested solely in numismatics that is the end of this thread (although you can see a picture of a signed 1969 star $1 bill later in this thread).
I was recently at the Spacefest convention in Tucson. It is a nice mix of astronauts, vendors, artists and lectures by people in the space exploration field. At the convention I had a chance to meet Jim McDivitt, the commander of Gemini 4 (and Apollo 9), and talk to him about how many gold coins he brought on the mission. Here's a picture of us with my flown $2.50 and a picture he signed.
Obviously I was interested in the flown gold coins recently at auction, but didn't bid on them, and I was interested in the Armstrong/Shepard/Yeager bill, but didn't have to have it above a set price. I guess like most coin collectors I've gotten interested in a specific series. Only in my case the "series" is the Apollo 12 mission. It was the Second Landing ever on the Moon. Because it was second, and because the TV camera got fried, it never got the notoriety it deserved. Here's a picture of the crew.
I have gotten friendly over the last several years with Dick Gordon, one of the two remaining crewmen from the flight. He is a total hoot to hang around with. I've also gotten to spend some time with Alan Bean, the other remaining crewman, who is also a very nice guy. It is highly amusing to watch them give each other grief. Here are the 3 of us discussing a picture. Dick is in the foreground and Al is next to me.
Anyhow, since the start of the year I've managed to win at auction 4 flown items from the flight. Three of them were flown in lunar orbit in the Command and Service Module (CSM), and 1 was part of an instrument on the Lunar Module (LM). I also managed to pick up some signatures from Al and Dick at the most recent Spacefest convention.
One of the items I won was Dick's Apollo 12 comb. I suspect there are more Apollo flown combs out there, but astronauts did not need them in a weightless condition, so currently it is one of only two known combs to have flown to the Moon. Dick had a full head of hair while Al and Pete Conrad, the Commander of Apollo 12, were more follicly challenged. Dick brought his comb along to use and to give the other two grief about. I don't use it often, but it is fun to use one of only two combs known to have flown to the Moon. Here's Dick talking to Al about the comb.
The second item I got was the Operations checklist. It is about 150 pages long and tells the crewmen how to do the assorted tasks they are supposed to do. It is not light reading, but it's very interesting to flip to a given section and check it out. It's on 8" X 6" cardstock. Not that there were ever a lot of them, but getting full Apollo checklists is getting much harder (and pricier) these days, as some chowderheads buy them and then sell them page by page.
Here's a look in the index to give you an idea of subjects covered in the checklist.
The next item I got was a Beta Cloth checklist-scissors leg assembly used by Dick. It is roughly 12" X 9.5". The larger pouch would hold a checklist, while the smaller pouch would hold the scissors. It was strapped around the astronauts leg outside of his spacesuit and inflight coveralls. NASA retained title to astronaut spacesuits and inflight coveralls, so it is very rare to find a flown items that an astronaut wore.
The final flown item I won this year was a light bulb assembly, 1.75" X 1.625", that was used in the Crewman Optical Alignment Sight (COAS). The COAS was used by the mission commander to determine where he was going to land when he was descending to the Moon, and was used by him to rendezvous with the CSM when ascending from the Moon. It is VERY rare to find LM pieces of equipment, particularly from Apollo 12. Basically the lightbulb assembly would light up markings within the COAS so that the commander could tell what the assorted angles and distances were.
Here are more detailed images of the COAS. It was located above the commander's window (the left hand window).
Finally, in April I went to the Santa Clara coin show. I am not normally a bill collector, but when I was browsing the show I saw a 1969 star $1 bill. Apollo 12 landed in 1969 (as did Apollo 11), so I decided to get the bill and have it signed by Dick and Al at Spacefest. Al likes to draw stars. Oftentimes in his comments on a picture he will add a star. In the picture he signed for me right before doing this bill he added a star in the commentary, so I mentioned to him about star bills. He was interested in it, and decided that Dick needed many stars, specifically 5 stars, for the top military rank. Needless to say, he gave Dick some excrement about it too...
It's been fun getting to know these guys. They really are some of America's Best.
There was also a, theoretically, flown to the lunar surface on Apollo 17, $20 Saint Gaudens. I don't know the date, as it was mounted with the reverse side showing. This coin got withdrawn at the last minute, as there were some issues swirling around in the background.
Robbins medallions (which started being carried aboard missions with Apollo 7) have gotten (for the most part) smoking hot. Prices are escalating dramatically, particularly on the Apollo 17 medallions, which a couple of years ago you could have bought for ~ $20,000, while the most recent one to cross the block went for ~ $65,000.
A variety of astronaut signed (but unflown) $1 bills have hit the market. Last week I bid ~ $5,500 (which was comfortably over the high end estimate) on a neat silver certificate signed by Neal Armstrong, Alan Shepard and Chuck Yeager. The bill ended up going for ~ $9,300. Oh well.
For those of you interested solely in numismatics that is the end of this thread (although you can see a picture of a signed 1969 star $1 bill later in this thread).
I was recently at the Spacefest convention in Tucson. It is a nice mix of astronauts, vendors, artists and lectures by people in the space exploration field. At the convention I had a chance to meet Jim McDivitt, the commander of Gemini 4 (and Apollo 9), and talk to him about how many gold coins he brought on the mission. Here's a picture of us with my flown $2.50 and a picture he signed.
Obviously I was interested in the flown gold coins recently at auction, but didn't bid on them, and I was interested in the Armstrong/Shepard/Yeager bill, but didn't have to have it above a set price. I guess like most coin collectors I've gotten interested in a specific series. Only in my case the "series" is the Apollo 12 mission. It was the Second Landing ever on the Moon. Because it was second, and because the TV camera got fried, it never got the notoriety it deserved. Here's a picture of the crew.
I have gotten friendly over the last several years with Dick Gordon, one of the two remaining crewmen from the flight. He is a total hoot to hang around with. I've also gotten to spend some time with Alan Bean, the other remaining crewman, who is also a very nice guy. It is highly amusing to watch them give each other grief. Here are the 3 of us discussing a picture. Dick is in the foreground and Al is next to me.
Anyhow, since the start of the year I've managed to win at auction 4 flown items from the flight. Three of them were flown in lunar orbit in the Command and Service Module (CSM), and 1 was part of an instrument on the Lunar Module (LM). I also managed to pick up some signatures from Al and Dick at the most recent Spacefest convention.
One of the items I won was Dick's Apollo 12 comb. I suspect there are more Apollo flown combs out there, but astronauts did not need them in a weightless condition, so currently it is one of only two known combs to have flown to the Moon. Dick had a full head of hair while Al and Pete Conrad, the Commander of Apollo 12, were more follicly challenged. Dick brought his comb along to use and to give the other two grief about. I don't use it often, but it is fun to use one of only two combs known to have flown to the Moon. Here's Dick talking to Al about the comb.
The second item I got was the Operations checklist. It is about 150 pages long and tells the crewmen how to do the assorted tasks they are supposed to do. It is not light reading, but it's very interesting to flip to a given section and check it out. It's on 8" X 6" cardstock. Not that there were ever a lot of them, but getting full Apollo checklists is getting much harder (and pricier) these days, as some chowderheads buy them and then sell them page by page.
Here's a look in the index to give you an idea of subjects covered in the checklist.
The next item I got was a Beta Cloth checklist-scissors leg assembly used by Dick. It is roughly 12" X 9.5". The larger pouch would hold a checklist, while the smaller pouch would hold the scissors. It was strapped around the astronauts leg outside of his spacesuit and inflight coveralls. NASA retained title to astronaut spacesuits and inflight coveralls, so it is very rare to find a flown items that an astronaut wore.
The final flown item I won this year was a light bulb assembly, 1.75" X 1.625", that was used in the Crewman Optical Alignment Sight (COAS). The COAS was used by the mission commander to determine where he was going to land when he was descending to the Moon, and was used by him to rendezvous with the CSM when ascending from the Moon. It is VERY rare to find LM pieces of equipment, particularly from Apollo 12. Basically the lightbulb assembly would light up markings within the COAS so that the commander could tell what the assorted angles and distances were.
Here are more detailed images of the COAS. It was located above the commander's window (the left hand window).
Finally, in April I went to the Santa Clara coin show. I am not normally a bill collector, but when I was browsing the show I saw a 1969 star $1 bill. Apollo 12 landed in 1969 (as did Apollo 11), so I decided to get the bill and have it signed by Dick and Al at Spacefest. Al likes to draw stars. Oftentimes in his comments on a picture he will add a star. In the picture he signed for me right before doing this bill he added a star in the commentary, so I mentioned to him about star bills. He was interested in it, and decided that Dick needed many stars, specifically 5 stars, for the top military rank. Needless to say, he gave Dick some excrement about it too...
It's been fun getting to know these guys. They really are some of America's Best.
0
Comments
Sugar magnolia blossoms blooming, heads all empty and I don't care ...
I like the '69-A star note. It's nice that you have both the before and after scans, as this helps demonstrate that YOU are the one who had the note autographed.
Thanks for sharing.
Too many positive BST transactions with too many members to list.
Oh, and I also recently managed to pick up this item. It is an Atlas-D hydraulic vernier cylinder and servovalve. It's about a foot long. The Atlas-D was the rocket that launched the Mercury spacecraft in 1962-3. The vernier rockets blasted out to the sides of the Atlas-D, stabilizing the rocket. If you look at the picture you'll see that various of the parts are not only screwed in, but also wired in too. This was a back up system to try and keep the parts where they were supposed to be under the intense shaking of launch. You can see the vernier engines in action right above the main engines in the Aurora 7 launch picture.
U.S. Type Set
It's just amazing that something could be sent into orbit then return to earth back then with the technology of the day. Lots of smart smart people.
Too many positive BST transactions with too many members to list.
<< <i>Thanks for the post Skyman...really enjoy these and appreciate this 'hobby' of yours. Cheers, RickO >>
I agree! It's always interesting to see more of your collection.
Click on this link to see my ebay listings.
Coinfame,Kaelasdad,Type2,UNLVino,MICHAELDIXON
Justacommeman,tydye,78saen,123cents,blue62vette,Segoja,Nibanny
<< <i>Sy you are the foremost Keeper of Americas Space Program History... Thank you for sharing the pics and for the background info of all the items shown in this thread and for the friendships you made with those remarkable Austronauts. NASA should grant you the previledge of buying a space capsule in one way shape or form. That would be the ultimate Crowning Glory of your collection!
Actually, I do know someone who has a "boilerplate" space capsule. They were designed to be the same size, shape etc. of the capsule in question (Mercury, Gemini, Apollo) to test out various aspects of the capsule in question. For example they'd be dumped out of a cargo plane at 30,000 feet with a parachute system to see if the parachute system would work properly. They were called boilerplates because they were made out of basic steel etc.
I enjoy being a keeper of American space program history, but I'm a medium sized fish. You should see what the big boys collect. There is a guy within 5 miles of here, that dropped over 30 TIMES what I did on the last auction.
U.S. Type Set
Safety wiring is still done today. It is one of the things motorcycle racers are required to do for dozens of fasteners like brake caliper bolts, oil drain plugs, axle nuts, etc. The bolt is drilled through the head, inserted and tightened, and safety wire is passed through the drilled hole. Special safety wire pliers are used to spin the two ends of wire into a braid after wrapping around the bolt head (such that the bolt cannot loosen).
Lance.
www.brunkauctions.com
That's probably .042 dia safety wire holding on the caps and locking the bolts so they not back out. I've probably safety wired enough bolts, screws & cannon plugs to wrap half way around the world. Which ever mechanic assembled this unit, they did a good job.
A refreshing post of history.
"Keep your malarkey filter in good operating order" -Walter Breen
Congratulations on the 4 items and hope you get to add more great items soon...
AB
The pre-hype. The tension during lift off and splash down.
I remember going to bed as a kid and thinking about the astronauts that were in orbit or on the moon.
Exiting times. Brought about a sense of national pride.
The best of the best both in the air and on the ground.
"If I say something in the woods and my wife isn't there to hear it.....am I still wrong?"
My Washington Quarter Registry set...in progress
Ok, this is EXCESSIVELY cool! Congrat's and I love this theme.................Selfishly I hope you tire of coins or run out of money on space stuff and are forced to sell me your cameo Walker
MJ
Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
Thanks for sharing Skyman
Love your posts, and congrats on acquiring more Apollo 12 stuff, thats a good
niche to pursue. Too bad about the Armstrong/Shepard/Yeager Bill, I have a
feeling it won't be too long that one of those will cost 20G's+. that is if there
is more than one.
And Thank You for sharing your collection, I think I enjoy it just as much as you
do, what I really envy is the look in your eyes when your hanging around those
Moon Guys, The kid in a candy store comes to mind and thats just priceless,
I mean seriously How COOL is that, again Congrats and thanx fer posting.
Steve
Wonderful items all! Thanks for sharing them with us.
Did anything ever come from the suggestion of Greek characters on that signed note a while back?
Best wishes,
Eric
<< <i>There was also a, theoretically, flown to the lunar surface on Apollo 17, $20 Saint Gaudens. I don't know the date, as it was mounted with the reverse side showing. This coin got withdrawn at the last minute, as there were some issues swirling around in the background. >>
Sy, I'm curious about this $20 SG, whats the scuttlebutt on this piece, was there doubt that it was flown?, or why it was pulled?
Also since were in the neighborhood, has there been any timepieces/watches that have gone to the moon that have come to market?
Again great Post
Steve
Looking for Top Pop Mercury Dime Varieties & High Grade Mercury Dime Toners.
Steve, the last I heard about the $20 was rather confusing, and I'm waiting to find out from a certain source what the deal was about the coin.
There have certainly been watches that have gone to the Moon. They tend to go for a good chunk of change as both space geeks and watch geeks want them. I don't track them as they are pricey enough that I am not interested in them. The last time related piece I seem to remember was a private sale of a Apollo 15 lunar surface flown stopwatch which went for somewhere in the $50,000 range.
U.S. Type Set