[Apollo, Skylab]

A GROUP OF LEAD TEST STRIKES FOR APOLLO AND SKYLAB ROBBINS MEDALLIONS

Lead test strikes for the obverse and reverse of Apollo 11, Apollo 15, Apollo 17, and Skylab II Robbins medallions. Six test strikes in total. 

Apollo 11 obverse test strike measures 1.75 inches in diameter. Central to the strike is the Apollo 11 mission emblem. No marking on the back of the obverse test strike. The Robbins reverse strike features the names of the crew “Armstrong, Collins, Aldrin” and includes blank spaces with which to inscribe the launch, landing, and return dates of the mission. The back of the Robbins reverse strike features faint text, potentially from newspaper transfer. 

Apollo 15 obverse strike features the Apollo 15 insignia and measures 2 inches in diameter. “D1H15” is etched on the bottom. The reverse is irregularly cut in size, measuring 2.25 x 2.1 inches. The reverse strike features the text: “MAN’S FLIGHT THROUGH LIFE IS SUSTAINED BY THE POWER OF HIS KNOWLEDGE.” This is an early version of the Apollo 15 Robbins medallion, indicated by the famous misspelling of the Hadley “Appennines” landing site and a blank space under “VIKING” rather than “ENDEAVOR.” There is also a blank space under “FALCON,” which retained its name and placement on the final version of the medallion. Reverse measures 2.25 x 2.10 inches. 

Apollo 17 obverse test strike features the mission insignia and the crew names: Cernan, Evans, and Schmitt. Obverse strike measures 1.9 x 1.9 inches. 

Apollo 17 reverse test strike reads “AMERICA / CHALLENGER/ APOLLO XVII / THE BEGINNING” and blank areas for “LAUNCH,” “TAURUS-LITTROW,” and “ENTRY” dates to be entered. Reverse measures 1.75 x 1.75 inches. 

Skylab II obverse test strike includes the mission insignia and crew names “BEAN,” “GARRIOTT,” and “LOUSMA.” Obverse test strike measures 1.5 x 1.5 inches in diameter. “D/1/6/5” and “22 5.332” are engraved on the back. 

Skylab II reverse strike features the reverse of the medallion with the flattened shape of the spacecraft. Six small boxes, three on each side of the space station, are blank for the mission dates to be input. The reverse measures 2 x 2 inches. “U [ or J] 4976 / 2 2 5 332” are engraved on the back.