One of many 24 highly-prized units of Gemini area mission sterling silver medallions is included within the upcoming public sale of a longtime NASA engineer’s property. The set was beforehand owned by astronaut Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, the second individual to step on the moon. The medallions are among the many many vital U.S. area program memorabilia and historic artifacts consigned to Goldberg Cash & Collectibles (www.GoldbergCoins.com) by the heirs of aerospace engineer Clark C. McClelland.
His assortment will probably be provided for the primary time at a public public sale in Los Angeles and online by Goldbergs on February 27, 2025. The 2-man Gemini area missions had been performed by NASA in 1965 and 1966.
That is the public sale catalog description of the medallions (lot #1253):
Gemini Silver Medallions, Full Set In Lucite, Initially Owned by Buzz Aldrin Who Has Signed Alongside the Wooden Base. The entire set of flown medallions from GT-3 by means of GT-12 initially owned by Buzz Aldrin. These silver medallions had been manufactured by Fliteline. Having a full set is sort of unimaginable to search out as solely 24 full units exist and solely a only a few early astronauts had them. Lucite block is 1 x 3 x 1″ on wooden base 1 x 3 x 8.5″ Plaque reads “THESE COMMEMORATIVE MEDALLIONS WERE FLOWN ON EACH OF THEIR RESPECTIVE FLIGHTS.”
Buzz Aldrin has boldly signed in blue Sharpie left of the plaque. It is a important piece of NASA historical past, worthy of any museum’s aerospace collections or elite collector. Estimated Worth $9,000 – 12,000.
“The outstanding property of NASA Spacecraft Operator (ScO) Clark C. McClelland (1936–2021) features a museum-quality assortment of classic, authentic images spanning practically 40 area missions from the Mercury to Apollo applications together with uncommon astronaut autographs, aerospace contractors’ rocket fashions, and 5 American flags flown to the moon and again and a sixth flag carried earlier by John Glenn on his first mission in area,” stated Freeman Fisher, Director of Manuscripts & Collectibles at Goldberg Cash & Collectibles.
“The public sale features a uncommon, autographed {photograph} of astronaut Neil Armstrong, captured through the iconic dwell broadcast of his historic first steps on the moon,” added Fisher.
“My father labored on lots of of manned and unmanned U.S. missions throughout his 34 years (1958-1992) with NASA at Cape Canaveral in Florida,” recalled Carrie Lane, considered one of McClelland’s daughters. “He additionally did tasks on the Johnson House Middle in Texas and the secretive Space 51 in Nevada.”
McClelland’s son-in-law Russell Lane acknowledged: “He beloved our nation, NASA, and the area program, and did every thing he may to encourage the subsequent era about science, engineering, and area.”
As a NASA engineer, McClelland performed intensive technical checkouts for simulated flights of the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo applications, area shuttles, and Skylab area station missions.
The total public sale catalog is on the market free on-line at auctions.goldbergcoins.com/m/view-auctions/catalog/id/119. Printed copies can be found by mail within the U.S. for $20 every and $40 every for copies despatched exterior the U.S.
For extra info relating to the public sale of those historic area artifacts, go to the web site or contact Goldberg Cash & Collectibles at (310) 551-2646 or by e mail at [email protected].
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