Summary

Australia
Apollo 8 - First Lunar Orbit 1968 (AD)
Mint: K. G. Luke

Issued by the Historical Medal Society of Australia & New Zealand to commemorate the first manned lunar orbit flight in December 1968. The crew, Frank Borman (commander), James A. Lovell (command module pilot and navigator) and William A. Anders (lunar module pilot), photographed the lunar surface, both farside and nearside, and obtained information needed for future Apollo landings. Borman, Lovell and Anders were all experienced NASA astronauts. Borman was a colonel in the U.S. Air Force, program manager, test pilot and advisor on space programs. Lovell was a test pilot and aviation safety expert, was the first person to journey twice to the moon and held a record for time spent in space. Anders was a fighter pilot and nuclear industry expert. The Historical Medal Society of Australia & New Zealand (HMSANZ) was one of several medal-issuing organisations in New Zealand in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The Society never formally met, and distributed a monthly journal, Historica, in lieu of meetings. Its main purpose was apparently to issue and market commemorative medals.

Physical Description

Bronze medal issued by the Historic Medal Society of Australia and New Zealand to commemorate the lunar orbit of Apollo 8, featuring on the obverse at the centre Earth and Moon, TEN LUNAR / ORBITS / TWO EATH / ORBITS; on raised border, MANS FIRST HISTORIC FLIGHT AROUND THE MOON DECEMBER 1968; and on the reverse at centre, APOLLO 8 / LAUNCHED CAPE / KENNEDY RETURNED / PACIFIC OCEAN AREA etc; around on border, THE HISTORICAL MEDAL SOCIETY OF AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND

Obverse Description

At centre Earth and Moon, 'TEN LUNAR/ORBITS / TWO EARTH/ORBITS'; on raised border, 'MANS FIRST HISTORIC FLIGHT AROUND THE MOON DECEMBER 1968'. Inside border at bottom 'LUKE MELB'.

Reverse Description

Around on border, THE HISTORIC MEDAL SOCIETY OF AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND'. At centre: 'APOLLO 8 LAUNCHED CAPE KENNEDY RETURNED PACIFIC OCEAN AREA COLONEL FRANK BORMAN CAPTAIN JAMES LOVELL MAJOR WILLIAM ANDERS ASTRONAUTS OF UNITED STATES OF AMERICA'.

Edge Description

Plain

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