Medal, Robbins, Commemorative, Apollo 17

This sterling silver medallion minted by the Robbins Company in Attleboro, Massachusetts commemorates the Apollo 17 mission and has the mission patch on its front. Apollo 17, the last mission in the Apollo program, was launched on December 7, 1972, and returned after a little over twelve days. It was the tenth human spaceflight and the sixth and final lunar landing in the program. Eugen Cernan, Harrison Schmitt, and Ron Evans were the astronauts.

Robbins medallions were only available for purchase through the NASA astronaut office and many were flown aboard the missions to create a personal keepsake. This medallion, however, number 289, which belonged to NASA astronaut and National Air and Space Museum director Michael Collins, was never flown in space. Collins gave the medal to the Museum for display in the "Apollo to the Moon" gallery when the National Mall Building opened in 1976. It became a permanent part of the National Collection in 1985.