What Is a Robbins Medal?
Since Apollo 7, Robbins Medals (so named for the company that mints them -- Robbins Company of Attleboro, MA) have journeyed into space along with every manned U.S. mission. Up to 450 medals were minted for each mission, and given almost exclusively to the astronauts, their families, and the crew that made the mission possible.
On the obverse of the medals is an image taken from the mission patch, its design created or directed by the astronaut crew of the mission. The reverse of the medals was initially left blank, with the launch and return dates added once the mission was complete and the medals had returned to Earth.
For the Apollo 11 mission, three gold medals went aboard the spacecraft -- one for each astronaut. In addition, 440 silver Robbins Medals were stowed in the spacecraft. An additional 10 were struck but did not travel into space. As part of Neil Armstrong's Private Collection, his personal gold Robbins Medal, as well as additional silver medallions, will be sold at an auction to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission.
Robbins Medals’ scarcity, history of having flown in space and place in American history make them highly sought-after collectibles.