On May 16, NASA launched the last mission for the shuttle program with the Endeavor shuttle and its crew. In honor of this last mission and in remembrance of the early days of NASA’s space efforts, let’s take a look at a First Men on the Moon commemorative coin.
You’re saying, “What? The US Mint did not release a First Men on the Moon coin.”
That’s true, but back in 1989, the Republic of the Marshall Islands did release a commemorative $5 coin on the 20th anniversary of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin’s first steps on the moon.
The cupronickel $5 commemorative coin was packaged in a tri-fold coin holder that provided information about the US space program, the astronauts and the obverse and reverse of the First Men on the Moon commemorative $5 coin.
The colorful front of the coin holder shows images of the men on the moon and the moon lander.
The back of the coin holder shows a picture of the reverse of the coin.
The coin holder unfolds to show the information and the First Men on the Moon $5 commemorative coin.
At the top, information about the US space program includes reference to President Kennedy’s declaration that the US would put men on the moon along with the historic, “The Eagle has landed,” comment by the Apollo 11 crew when that declaration came true.
The $5 commemorative coin in its pliofilm protective covering is held in the middle of the tri-folded coin holder. Around the coin, the dates of the Apollo 11 launch, the landing on the moon and the release of the First Men on the Moon coin are shown.
Below the coin, the text provides a decription of the coin- both obverse and reverse. The obverse design utilized a picture taken by Neil Armstrong of Buzz Aldrin as he climbed down the ladder to the moon’s surface. The reverse design shows details found on the official seal of the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
Another section of the tri-folded coin holder provides a picture of the three Apollo 11 astronauts and gives a brief biography of each.
Let’s take a closer look at the coin – the obverse:
And, the reverse:
The coin with its image of an astronaut stepping onto the moon’s surface for the first time provides a history lesson and a remembrance of the achievements of the 1960s.
With today’s technology, this First Men on the Moon commemorative $5 coin is also a reminder that the first impressive achievements into space back in the 1960s were made in spacecraft with less technogical power than can be found in a $10 calculator purchased today.
What amazing feats we can accomplish if we apply ourselves. And, this commemorative coin helps us remember the accomplishments and the people who made them.