The United States Mint announced it has been honored with the "Best Collectible Silver Coin" award for the 2019 Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Five Ounce Proof Silver Dollar at the 2023 Mint Directors Conference in Ottawa, Canada yesterday.
The obverse (heads) design features the inscriptions "MERCURY," "GEMINI," and "APOLLO," separated by phases of the Moon, and a footprint on the lunar surface, which together represent the efforts of the United States space program leading up to the first manned Moon landing.
The reverse (tails) design features a representation of a close-up of the famous ‘Buzz Aldrin on the Moon’ photograph taken July 20, 1969, that shows just the visor and part of the helmet of astronaut Buzz Aldrin. The reflection in Buzz Aldrin’s helmet includes astronaut Neil Armstrong, the United States flag, and the lunar lander.
It took them 4 years to give this award to the U.S. Mint!!?? Lol.
And I just love U.S.Mint Director Madame Ventris C. Gibson’s designer pumps complete with bows! Her junket/trip to Ottawa, Ontario, Canada was surely worth it to rub elbows with her major competitors from other world government Mints over a coin that “sold out” in 2019.
I really liked that coin, but only bought 2 for my collection of curved/domed/convex-concave coins.
Mazel Tov Frau Gibson!
NumisdudeTX
Major D,
Yes, as I was reminded 3 days ago when I got the newest COVID vaccine booster (my fifth COVID vaccine since the pandemic started).
And, I surely missed going to any coin show those first 3 years of the pandemic mainly due to cancellations & my as anxiety/OCD issues. Hope you & everyone here is well & keeping up with the seasonal viruses going around now (influenza, new strain of COVID, RSV, Monkeypox etc.).
NumisdudeTX
Kaiser,
Reminds me of the German saying “Sie hat doch ein Vogel im Kopf!” Lmao.
NumisdudeTX
Kaiser,
Das ist aber sehr listing!
NumisdudeTX
Should be “lustig”, of course! Lol.
NumisdudeTX
Coin looks damaged above in the bottom image with the coin on its side. Reeds look bent on the bottom in two places and smashed on the top below PLURIBUS.
Wonder if it would grade ‘Details.’ Hopefully this wasn’t the specimen used for judging.
sure it’s not just ‘moire effect’?
Two recent coin awards for the mint (Apollo and the 2021 $100 gold American Liberty) Perhaps, they can come up with several in 2027.
Kaiser,
Ironically, that beautiful 2017 gold coin, which still hasn’t sold out in 6 years & can still be purchased from the U.S. Mint, also gets the award for being the longest offering of a single coin in Mint history.
NumisdudeTX
Major D,
That’s unfortunately so true, and so very sad.
NumisdudeTX
Great coin and one of the best commemorative coin series the US Mint has produced. Missed getting the 5oz but did pick up two of the 1oz proofs and the half dollar class.
Agree fully Major D. The baseball one is the most innovative design, the Apollo 11 most impactful b/c of the history of the moon landing.
I was out of the country and missed my opportunity to get the 5oz behemoth:-(
Major D,
You are right on point on that beautiful coin. It is also the only Proof 5-ounce silver coin the U.S. Mint has produced.
NumisdudeTX
I’m with ya Kaiser 🙁
The Canada WWI helmet coin was also a stunner Major D.