BILL DANA'S APOLLO 17 ROBBINS MEDAL TO BE SOLD

One of only 80 Robbins medals that flew to the moon on Apollo 17 (estimate: $30,000+) from the collection of mission commander Gene Cernan and an American flag actually flown to the surface of the moon on Apollo 14 (estimate: $25,000+), from the collection of mission lunar module pilot Edgar Mitchell, are two of the top offerings in Heritage Auctions'' May 12 Space Exploration Event.

"These are both very evocative pieces and represent what collectors love most about Space memorabilia," said Michael Riley, Chief Historian and Senior Cataloger at Heritage Auctions. "They've got legendary names, important missions and they not only witnessed those things but actually made it to the moon, or very close. In fact, there are more than 50 lots in this auction that flew to the moon."

An Apollo 14 lunar module flown gold medallion, presented to and from the Collection of Comedian Bill Dana (estimate: $15,000+) - famously known as José Jiménez, "the Chief Astronaut for the United States Interplanetary Expeditionary Force" - is already creating serious buzz within collector circles. The medallion was originally created by and gifted to Dana by Alan Shepard and his fellow astronauts in 1969 as a "10th anniversary" present of his "adoption" as the honorary eighth astronaut

To read the complete article, see: Apollo 17 flown Robbins Medal, Apollo 14 moon-landed American flag, lead Heritage Auctions sale (www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=55243)

To read a related earlier E-Sylum article, see: BILL DANA AND THE MERCURY ASTRONAUT SHORT SNORTER (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v13n35a22.html)

Wayne Homren, Editor

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