The Perth Mint of Australia has launched an innovative rotating coin commemorating the first man in space. The legal-tender, 1 oz silver coin celebrates the journey of Yuri Gagarin, who became the first person to enter space and orbit Earth for 1 hour 48 minutes aboard Vostok 1 on April 12, 1961.

The limited minted coin marks the second release in the Perth Mint’s successful Orbit and Beyond Coin Series.

Gagarin’s flight ushered in a new era of manned space exploration that the 2008 Yuri Gagarin silver proof coin memorializes in a most unique way.

The .999 fine silver coin is constructed to rotate or "orbit" around a central brass representation of a colorful earth.

Equally colorful is the outer reverse or tails design bearing a "montage of images" symbolizing Gagarin’s journey and the border inscriptions "1961 FIRST MAN IN SPACE – YURI GAGARIN."

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The Soviet Union launched Sputnik on October 4, 1957. The world’s first artificial satellite was about the size of a basketball, but it didn’t bounce like one.

It’s impact was instead a world-wide event that marked the start of the space race between the United States and the Soviet Union.

Setting aside country affiliation and pride, Sputnik was a huge technological achievement and is worthy of celebration on the eve of its 50th Anniversary.

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