Medal and Decoration
not including Nobel medals.
Except otherwise stated, all results include the premium.
See also : Russia 1700-1900 Sport rewards and medals Olympic Games Space Apollo 11
Except otherwise stated, all results include the premium.
See also : Russia 1700-1900 Sport rewards and medals Olympic Games Space Apollo 11
breakthrough
1438 medal of John VIII Paleologus by Pisanello
Italian medals were first developed in 1438 by Pisanello for the Byzantine emperor John VIII Paleologus.
The obverse and reverse of an example kept at the Palazzo Doria are shared by Wikimedia with attribution Sailko, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons.
The obverse and reverse of an example kept at the Palazzo Doria are shared by Wikimedia with attribution Sailko, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons.
1554 Gold Medal for Queen Mary
2019 SOLD for CHF 800K before fees by Numismatica Genevensis
The sixteenth century was the era of religious wars and the terrible life of Mary Tudor confirms that the real challenge of the fratricidal conflicts was the political domination of Europe.
This daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon had received the best education of her time. She had been promised for marriage to princes of Spain and France but was thrown out of court and declared illegitimate when her mother was repudiated.
The reign of her half-brother Edward VI added to the chaos. Supported by the Spanish Catholics, Mary succeeded in 1553 to Edward while the Protestants opposed her with the anti-queen Jane Grey.
The new Queen was married in 1554 to the future King Philip II of Spain, son of the Emperor Charles V. On this occasion, the newlywed commissioned Jacopo da Trezzo with a medal bearing the portrait of his wife.
Released by the end of that year, it is a superb gold medal 68 mm in diameter weighing more than 150 g. The face is already exhausted by the ordeals of this woman who still expected until her death in 1558, aged 42, that she could become a mother. The reverse shows various symbols of peace and justice at the same time when the religious persecutions were increasing.
Only two pieces are known in gold. One of them was sold for £ 276K by Morton and Eden on December 9, 2009 and for CHF 800K before fees by NGSA (Numismatica Genevensis) on November 18, 2019, lot 196 here linked on the Biddr bidding platform. The other example is in the British Museum. This scarcity is probably because gold was reserved for presentation to the royals while the upper dignitaries got a similar medal in silver.
This daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon had received the best education of her time. She had been promised for marriage to princes of Spain and France but was thrown out of court and declared illegitimate when her mother was repudiated.
The reign of her half-brother Edward VI added to the chaos. Supported by the Spanish Catholics, Mary succeeded in 1553 to Edward while the Protestants opposed her with the anti-queen Jane Grey.
The new Queen was married in 1554 to the future King Philip II of Spain, son of the Emperor Charles V. On this occasion, the newlywed commissioned Jacopo da Trezzo with a medal bearing the portrait of his wife.
Released by the end of that year, it is a superb gold medal 68 mm in diameter weighing more than 150 g. The face is already exhausted by the ordeals of this woman who still expected until her death in 1558, aged 42, that she could become a mother. The reverse shows various symbols of peace and justice at the same time when the religious persecutions were increasing.
Only two pieces are known in gold. One of them was sold for £ 276K by Morton and Eden on December 9, 2009 and for CHF 800K before fees by NGSA (Numismatica Genevensis) on November 18, 2019, lot 196 here linked on the Biddr bidding platform. The other example is in the British Museum. This scarcity is probably because gold was reserved for presentation to the royals while the upper dignitaries got a similar medal in silver.
1789 Comitia Americana
2024 SOLD for $ 900K by Stack's Bowers
In 1776 the US Continental Congress approved the issuance of a gold medal to honor George Washington for driving the British from Boston. This act inaugurated the Comitia Americana series honoring American military heroes of key events.
The USA lacked the capability to produce the medals and Franklin was requested to explore the possibility of having them made in France. Production was delayed until after the conclusion of the American Revolution.
Fought in 1779, the battle of Stony Point was one of the selected events. The Americans went to control the area around a strategic ferry across the Hudson river 56 km north of New York City. The three rewarded Stony Point heroes were General Anthony Wayne, Lt. Col. François de Fleury and the late Major John Stewart.
Seven examples from the 1789 original impression of the Stewart medal are extant in various metals, struck in Paris by Gatteaux. The silver medal presented to Stewart's father is not located. Stewart, standing left, steps forward to receive a palm branch from America, represented as a crowned, semi-nude Indian woman with an alligator tied beside her.
A bronze example graded MS-62 by PCGS is the only complete original Stewart medal in private hands. It was sold for $ 900K by Stack's Bowers on March 25, 2024, lot 1070.
The USA lacked the capability to produce the medals and Franklin was requested to explore the possibility of having them made in France. Production was delayed until after the conclusion of the American Revolution.
Fought in 1779, the battle of Stony Point was one of the selected events. The Americans went to control the area around a strategic ferry across the Hudson river 56 km north of New York City. The three rewarded Stony Point heroes were General Anthony Wayne, Lt. Col. François de Fleury and the late Major John Stewart.
Seven examples from the 1789 original impression of the Stewart medal are extant in various metals, struck in Paris by Gatteaux. The silver medal presented to Stewart's father is not located. Stewart, standing left, steps forward to receive a palm branch from America, represented as a crowned, semi-nude Indian woman with an alligator tied beside her.
A bronze example graded MS-62 by PCGS is the only complete original Stewart medal in private hands. It was sold for $ 900K by Stack's Bowers on March 25, 2024, lot 1070.
What an epic auction! As expected the Richard Margolis Collection set new auction records! https://t.co/ym1QaJFjQJ pic.twitter.com/SlfCsVrI38
— Stack's Bowers (@StacksBowers) April 3, 2024
The Order of St. Andrew
Intro
The order of St. Andrew was created by Peter the Great in imitation of the English orders. This system enabling to distinguish the members of the Imperial family and the grand courtiers was widely used by the Romanov.
In 1797, the new Tsar Paul I gave its official status to this order, accompanied by some charitable duties. The insignia consisted of a star, a large collar and a jewel constituted by a cross of St Andrew resting on the two-headed eagle under a crown.
In 1797, the new Tsar Paul I gave its official status to this order, accompanied by some charitable duties. The insignia consisted of a star, a large collar and a jewel constituted by a cross of St Andrew resting on the two-headed eagle under a crown.
1
1797 complete set
2012 SOLD for € 1.73M by Damien Libert
On June 20, 2012, Damien Libert sold for € 1.73M from a lower estimate of € 500K a complete set of Knight of the Order of St. Andrew made in the period of the reforms of Paul I. The recipient is not identified but he was certainly a French aristocrat involved in the Russian army or at the court : the name of the fifth duc de Richelieu is advanced in the catalog with a good probability.
The cross and the 23 links of the collar are crafted in gold and enamel. The star is made of silver sequins. The lower estimate is announced by La Gazette Drouot at € 400K and at € 500K by the press release. Let us rather state that it is difficult to predict the price of this very rare complete set.
Only members of the Imperial family could crimp their badges of St. Andrew with precious stones.
The cross and the 23 links of the collar are crafted in gold and enamel. The star is made of silver sequins. The lower estimate is announced by La Gazette Drouot at € 400K and at € 500K by the press release. Let us rather state that it is difficult to predict the price of this very rare complete set.
Only members of the Imperial family could crimp their badges of St. Andrew with precious stones.
2
1800 badge
2008 SOLD for £ 2.7M by Sotheby's
A brooch (a better English word is badge) comes from the crown jewels of Imperial Russia. In imposing size (13 x 9 cm, 160 grams), it is covered with 45 carats of diamonds.
Its drawing, very fine, has two bodies: the main part is an eagle with two heads and with wings and tail deployed. This one is partly covered by a cross of St Andrew with the image of the saint. Over it, there is the beautiful image of the imperial crown. All of this is in diamonds except the eyes of the eagle which are rubies and beaks and claws which are gold.
The jewel was made around 1800 as a decoration of the Order of St. Andrew. It was a privilege of the tsar's family to wear this type of decorations in the great occasions of the State. The descent from that piece is known: given by the Imperial family to the ducal family of Oldenburg, it returned in 1890 to Empress Maria Feodorovna, who wore it.
It was sold for £ 2.7M from a lower estimate of £ 400K by Sotheby's on June 12, 2008, lot 540.
Its drawing, very fine, has two bodies: the main part is an eagle with two heads and with wings and tail deployed. This one is partly covered by a cross of St Andrew with the image of the saint. Over it, there is the beautiful image of the imperial crown. All of this is in diamonds except the eyes of the eagle which are rubies and beaks and claws which are gold.
The jewel was made around 1800 as a decoration of the Order of St. Andrew. It was a privilege of the tsar's family to wear this type of decorations in the great occasions of the State. The descent from that piece is known: given by the Imperial family to the ducal family of Oldenburg, it returned in 1890 to Empress Maria Feodorovna, who wore it.
It was sold for £ 2.7M from a lower estimate of £ 400K by Sotheby's on June 12, 2008, lot 540.
1839 Daniel Morgan Replacement Medal
2022 SOLD for $ 960K by Stack's Bowers
Six gold medals were authorized by the Continental Congress for actions in the American Revolution. Daniel Morgan was one of the recipients for his gallant victory at the battle of Cowpens in 1781.
Morgan's medal was struck in Paris in 1789 and lost in a bank heist in 1818, probably thrown by the fleeing thieves in the Ohio river. The general had died in 1802. His grandson petitioned to get a replacement medal, which was authorized by the US Congress in 1836 and struck in 1839 at the Philadelphia Mint with brand new dies in the configuration of the 1789 design by Augustin Dupré.
The gold medal was presented to Morgan's family in 1841 and went out of public view in 1885. Having just resurfaced, it was sold for $ 960K from a lower estimate of $ 250K by Stack's Bowers on April 4, 2022, lot 1004. Struck in magnificent relief and great sharpness, it is graded SP63 by PCGS and kept in its original case of the US Mint. It is shared in motion by the auction house.
The Congressional gold medal of the future US President William Henry Harrison had been sold for $ 600K by Stack's Bowers on August 19, 2021, lot 5022. It had been authorized by Congress in 1818, struck in 1824 and awarded in 1825. It honored his victory in the 1813 battle of the Thames in the War of 1812.
Morgan's medal was struck in Paris in 1789 and lost in a bank heist in 1818, probably thrown by the fleeing thieves in the Ohio river. The general had died in 1802. His grandson petitioned to get a replacement medal, which was authorized by the US Congress in 1836 and struck in 1839 at the Philadelphia Mint with brand new dies in the configuration of the 1789 design by Augustin Dupré.
The gold medal was presented to Morgan's family in 1841 and went out of public view in 1885. Having just resurfaced, it was sold for $ 960K from a lower estimate of $ 250K by Stack's Bowers on April 4, 2022, lot 1004. Struck in magnificent relief and great sharpness, it is graded SP63 by PCGS and kept in its original case of the US Mint. It is shared in motion by the auction house.
The Congressional gold medal of the future US President William Henry Harrison had been sold for $ 600K by Stack's Bowers on August 19, 2021, lot 5022. It had been authorized by Congress in 1818, struck in 1824 and awarded in 1825. It honored his victory in the 1813 battle of the Thames in the War of 1812.
Victoria Cross
1
1860 Thomas Henry Kavanagh
2022 SOLD for £ 930K by Noonans Mayfair
Created by Queen Victoria in 1856 during the Crimean War, the Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration of the Commonwealth. Honoring the bravery facing the enemy, it glorifies the acts of courage of soldiers whatever their rank in the army. Many of them were presented by the British monarch herself or himself.
In order to recognize the bravery of civilian volunteers during the Indian Mutiny, an 1858 Royal Warrant extended the eligibility of the VC to ‘non-military persons’ serving under military command. Only five civilians were awarded : four for the Indian Mutiny and the last one for the Second Afghan War.
George Chicken was rewarded for his great gallantry on the September 27, 1858, in having charged as a volunteer with the Indian Naval Brigade into the middle of a considerable number of the rebels. He died commanding a schooner in May 1860 less than one month after his citation.
Chicken's unawarded VC resurfaced and was sold for £ 48K before fees by Morton and Eden in October 2006. While the original was lost, a duplicate had been officially presented in 1862 to George's father. It was sold for £ 280K before fees by the same auction house on July 20, 2022.
An Irish clerk working for the Bengal civil service,Thomas Henry Kavanagh was invested with his VC by Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle on January 4, 1860. His reward had been announced in July 1859.
On November 9, 1857 during the defence siege of Lucknow, he had explored a fifteen mile route for guiding the relieving force to the beleaguered garrison, a task conceived by himself which he performed with chivalrous gallantry and devotion in the disguise of a native soldier.
Mr Kavanagh's VC was sold for £ 930K from a lower estimate of £ 300K by Noonans Mayfair on September 14, 2022, lot 16.
In order to recognize the bravery of civilian volunteers during the Indian Mutiny, an 1858 Royal Warrant extended the eligibility of the VC to ‘non-military persons’ serving under military command. Only five civilians were awarded : four for the Indian Mutiny and the last one for the Second Afghan War.
George Chicken was rewarded for his great gallantry on the September 27, 1858, in having charged as a volunteer with the Indian Naval Brigade into the middle of a considerable number of the rebels. He died commanding a schooner in May 1860 less than one month after his citation.
Chicken's unawarded VC resurfaced and was sold for £ 48K before fees by Morton and Eden in October 2006. While the original was lost, a duplicate had been officially presented in 1862 to George's father. It was sold for £ 280K before fees by the same auction house on July 20, 2022.
An Irish clerk working for the Bengal civil service,Thomas Henry Kavanagh was invested with his VC by Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle on January 4, 1860. His reward had been announced in July 1859.
On November 9, 1857 during the defence siege of Lucknow, he had explored a fifteen mile route for guiding the relieving force to the beleaguered garrison, a task conceived by himself which he performed with chivalrous gallantry and devotion in the disguise of a native soldier.
Mr Kavanagh's VC was sold for £ 930K from a lower estimate of £ 300K by Noonans Mayfair on September 14, 2022, lot 16.
Nearly 165 years ago, an Irish clerk working for the Bengal civil service in India risked his life on a daring espionage mission to save thousands of people… https://t.co/j3dMUceqDl pic.twitter.com/dRvtHUWmBX
— Noonans Mayfair (@NoonansAuctions) September 6, 2022
2
1917 Commander (later Vice-Admiral) Gordon Campbell
2017 SOLD for £ 840K by Morton and Eden
From the early days of the first world war, the marine war fully departed to the classical war rules. The German U-Boot submarines (anglicized as U-boats) targeted the merchant vessels. The highly secret British response was to heavily arm some of these merchants. These decoys were known as Q-boats.
The Q-5 was the HMS Farnborough commander by Gordon Campbell. Its first success was to sink the U Boot U-68 in May 1916.
Back at harbor, Campbell conceived a daring strategy. His Farnborough will restart targeting a U-boat of which she will deliberately put it in the path of the first torpedo. She will be badly damaged and some of her crew will play a panic party at sea. The German submarine will then come so close to her victim that it will be easy to sink her with the hidden weapons.
Everything happened as expected off Ireland on February 17, 1917 when the Farnborough sunk the U-83. Campbell then sent a radio message and the British rescue was on the site within one hour. His tactics will be successfully reused on June 17 by another Q-boat.
Campbell was invested the Victoria Cross by King George V at Buckingham Pajace less than three weeks later with a very limited public citation for security reasons. He also received a 2-bar Distinguished Service Order, plus nine other medals from UK and France and was ranked to Vice Admiral of the Royal Navy.
His full set of eleven medals was sold for £ 840K from a lower estimate of £ 300K by Morton and Eden on November 23, 2017, lot 194.
The Q-5 was the HMS Farnborough commander by Gordon Campbell. Its first success was to sink the U Boot U-68 in May 1916.
Back at harbor, Campbell conceived a daring strategy. His Farnborough will restart targeting a U-boat of which she will deliberately put it in the path of the first torpedo. She will be badly damaged and some of her crew will play a panic party at sea. The German submarine will then come so close to her victim that it will be easy to sink her with the hidden weapons.
Everything happened as expected off Ireland on February 17, 1917 when the Farnborough sunk the U-83. Campbell then sent a radio message and the British rescue was on the site within one hour. His tactics will be successfully reused on June 17 by another Q-boat.
Campbell was invested the Victoria Cross by King George V at Buckingham Pajace less than three weeks later with a very limited public citation for security reasons. He also received a 2-bar Distinguished Service Order, plus nine other medals from UK and France and was ranked to Vice Admiral of the Royal Navy.
His full set of eleven medals was sold for £ 840K from a lower estimate of £ 300K by Morton and Eden on November 23, 2017, lot 194.
Morton and Eden are delighted to announce the sale of the Victoria Cross & DSO** Group of 11 to Vice-Admiral Gordon Campbell, sold today for £840,000 (with premium), a new world record for a Victoria Cross at auction. pic.twitter.com/WBWvxE8rbu
— Morton & Eden Ltd (@MortonandEden) November 23, 2017
1913 The Order of the White Eagle
2018 SOLD for € 1.11M by Millon
After the Franco-German War of 1870 the two countries strengthen their respective alliances. Russia which has critical needs in industrial development is looking for investors in France. From 1888 to 1914 the Russian loans known as Emprunts Russes are immensely popular with small French savers.
From 1892 military agreements followed this economic cooperation between France and Russia. In 1904 and 1907 Great Britain made alliance with both countries.
Tension is rising in the Balkans and a new step forward would be useful. In August 1913 a delegation led by Général Joffre, supreme head of the French armies, is received by Tsar Nicholas II.
According to the principles of diplomacy this delegation is welcomed with the highest honors. Joffre is decorated with the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky which is the highest Russian men's honor after the Order of St. Andrew.
Joffre's chief deputy for this mission is Général d'Amade. To respect the hierarchical prerogatives, d'Amade receives a distinction slightly inferior to that of Joffre, the Order of the White Eagle, with an additional imperial honor rare at this time for this distinction which consists in crimping the badge and the plaque with a diamond pavement.
These two jewels in gold, silver gilt, diamonds, rubies and enamel were sold together for € 1.11M from a lower estimate of € 600K by Millon on May 30, 2018, lot 424. The 11 cm high badge weighing 140 g is decorated with the two-headed eagle and the imperial crown. The box and ribbon are included in this single lot.
From 1892 military agreements followed this economic cooperation between France and Russia. In 1904 and 1907 Great Britain made alliance with both countries.
Tension is rising in the Balkans and a new step forward would be useful. In August 1913 a delegation led by Général Joffre, supreme head of the French armies, is received by Tsar Nicholas II.
According to the principles of diplomacy this delegation is welcomed with the highest honors. Joffre is decorated with the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky which is the highest Russian men's honor after the Order of St. Andrew.
Joffre's chief deputy for this mission is Général d'Amade. To respect the hierarchical prerogatives, d'Amade receives a distinction slightly inferior to that of Joffre, the Order of the White Eagle, with an additional imperial honor rare at this time for this distinction which consists in crimping the badge and the plaque with a diamond pavement.
These two jewels in gold, silver gilt, diamonds, rubies and enamel were sold together for € 1.11M from a lower estimate of € 600K by Millon on May 30, 2018, lot 424. The 11 cm high badge weighing 140 g is decorated with the two-headed eagle and the imperial crown. The box and ribbon are included in this single lot.
1936 Olympic Gold Medal of Jesse Owens
2013 SOLD for $ 1.47M by SCP
The success of Jesse Owens at the Berlin Olympics in 1936 was not a surprise. Technically, he was one of the best sprinters of all time by a remarkable optimization of movement and an amazing sacrifice of pain during effort.
He won four prestigious events : 100 meters, 200 meters, long jump and within 4 x 100 meters team. This grandson of slaves who was born in Alabama became a hero for the whole African-American community and is still now one of the most popular symbols of the Nazi abuse.
On this last point, the reality is surprising. Hitler was willing to admit that Negroes had morphologic features that enabled them to win. Earlier in these games, the Chancellor had only congratulated German athletes. His advisers made him understand that it was a blunder and he therefore decided to stop contacting any winner.
Owens himself declared that Hitler had not been hostile to him. On the opposite, the champion sharply criticized the racial segregation in his own country, which will still go further for 32 years before being abolished.
At the time of the Berlin Games, the medals of the winners are struck in a unique model, with no identification of the sport and of course of the name of the laureate. The winning medals are in gold plated silver. Replicas were also released for some laudable uses. The authentication of a Berlin Games medal requires an impeccable provenance and an analysis by a specialized expert.
Two medals of Jesse Owens have been confirmed as genuine by James Greensfelder, author of a reference guide to Olympic medals. One of them, presented by the champion to tap dancer Bojangles, was sold for $ 1.47M by SCP on December 7, 2013. At the time of that auction, the other three medals were not localized.
Another one resurfaced. It had been gifted by Owens to a weightlifter, as a reward for helping him to make speeches in public meetings in the 1950s and 1960s. It was sold for $ 600K as lot 1 by Goldin on December 7, 2019. Please watch the video commented by Darren Rovell for the ESPN specialized sport channel.
He won four prestigious events : 100 meters, 200 meters, long jump and within 4 x 100 meters team. This grandson of slaves who was born in Alabama became a hero for the whole African-American community and is still now one of the most popular symbols of the Nazi abuse.
On this last point, the reality is surprising. Hitler was willing to admit that Negroes had morphologic features that enabled them to win. Earlier in these games, the Chancellor had only congratulated German athletes. His advisers made him understand that it was a blunder and he therefore decided to stop contacting any winner.
Owens himself declared that Hitler had not been hostile to him. On the opposite, the champion sharply criticized the racial segregation in his own country, which will still go further for 32 years before being abolished.
At the time of the Berlin Games, the medals of the winners are struck in a unique model, with no identification of the sport and of course of the name of the laureate. The winning medals are in gold plated silver. Replicas were also released for some laudable uses. The authentication of a Berlin Games medal requires an impeccable provenance and an analysis by a specialized expert.
Two medals of Jesse Owens have been confirmed as genuine by James Greensfelder, author of a reference guide to Olympic medals. One of them, presented by the champion to tap dancer Bojangles, was sold for $ 1.47M by SCP on December 7, 2013. At the time of that auction, the other three medals were not localized.
Another one resurfaced. It had been gifted by Owens to a weightlifter, as a reward for helping him to make speeches in public meetings in the 1950s and 1960s. It was sold for $ 600K as lot 1 by Goldin on December 7, 2019. Please watch the video commented by Darren Rovell for the ESPN specialized sport channel.
1969 Robbins Medallion of Neil Armstrong
2019 SOLD for $ 2.05M by Heritage
The tradition of commemorative medallions flown in US space missions begins with the first manned Gemini flight. They were made of pewter or sterling and sometimes gilded. Although the production was not documented, their boxes were marked Fliteline. The mission dates are engraved after the return to earth.
The latest series of Fliteline medallions is for Apollo 1. Eight prototypes had been prepared before the cabin fire. As a tribute to his fallen comrades, Neil Armstrong took a gilt specimen with him to the Apollo 11 LM. Coming from his collection, it was sold for $ 275K by Heritage on November 1, 2018.
When the Apollo program restarted in 1968, NASA reorganized this prestigious operation. The design is generally made by the crew of the related mission. Until Apollo 10 the shape is free. The production is entrusted to Robbins Company, a supplier of badges for the FBI and of Olympic medals.
The sterling silver medallions are now serialized, probably because NASA fears that astronauts will derive a personal profit detrimental to its reputation. A few 14K gold medallions are added for the personal collections of the astronauts.
For Apollo 11 in 1969, the drawing is prepared by Michael Collins. Robbins makes 450 silver sterling medallions that are all mission flown except for 10 that had been lost, plus 3 gold medallions, one for each astronaut.
The gold medallion awarded to Neil Armstrong followed him in the Lunar Module Eagle. Coming from his collection and graded MS 67 by NGC, it was sold for $ 2.05M on July 16, 2019 by Heritage, lot 50067. Please watch the video shared by NGC.
Collins's eagle ready to land in a plain of craters under earth light will be re-used for the federal coin of $ 1 between 1971 and 1978.
The scandal of Apollo 15 did not come from medallions but from philatelic envelopes.
The latest series of Fliteline medallions is for Apollo 1. Eight prototypes had been prepared before the cabin fire. As a tribute to his fallen comrades, Neil Armstrong took a gilt specimen with him to the Apollo 11 LM. Coming from his collection, it was sold for $ 275K by Heritage on November 1, 2018.
When the Apollo program restarted in 1968, NASA reorganized this prestigious operation. The design is generally made by the crew of the related mission. Until Apollo 10 the shape is free. The production is entrusted to Robbins Company, a supplier of badges for the FBI and of Olympic medals.
The sterling silver medallions are now serialized, probably because NASA fears that astronauts will derive a personal profit detrimental to its reputation. A few 14K gold medallions are added for the personal collections of the astronauts.
For Apollo 11 in 1969, the drawing is prepared by Michael Collins. Robbins makes 450 silver sterling medallions that are all mission flown except for 10 that had been lost, plus 3 gold medallions, one for each astronaut.
The gold medallion awarded to Neil Armstrong followed him in the Lunar Module Eagle. Coming from his collection and graded MS 67 by NGC, it was sold for $ 2.05M on July 16, 2019 by Heritage, lot 50067. Please watch the video shared by NGC.
Collins's eagle ready to land in a plain of craters under earth light will be re-used for the federal coin of $ 1 between 1971 and 1978.
The scandal of Apollo 15 did not come from medallions but from philatelic envelopes.
