How to Sell Your Apollo 17 Memorabilia

To auction, sell or consign your Apollo 17 memorabilia, please email your description and photos to [email protected] of Nate D. Sanders Auctions (NateDSanders.com).

What Was Unique About the Apollo 17 Mission?

Apollo 17 was the last mission of the Apollo program and is the most recent time a human has been on the moon. The mission was commanded by Gene Cernan and also included astronauts Harrison Schmitt and Ronald Evans. The mission achieved many firsts, including the longest crewed moon landing and the longest time spent on the lunar surface. Schmitt’s work as a geologist gave him an invaluable perspective to study the mission’s Taurus-Littrow landing site and he remains the only natural scientist to walk on the lunar surface.

Here Are Some Apollo 17 Items We’ve Sold:

Jack Swigert’s Apollo 17 Flown Robbins Medal — Sold for $56,250

Apollo 17 Robbins medal, serial number 41. Sterling silver medal commemorates Apollo 17 as the most recent lunar landing conducted by NASA to date. The mission launched 7 December 1972 and returned safely twelve days later. Pictorial obverse is cast with mission insignia, featuring stylized design elements of the U.S. flag and an eagle, alongside a bust in profile of Greek god Apollo. Figures are set against a detailed space ground featuring the moon and ringed planets. Scene is circumscribed by title, ”Apollo XVII / Cernan-Evans-Schmitt”. Reverse reads, ”Launch / Dec. 6, 1972 / Taurus-Littrow / Dec. 11, 1972 / Entry / Dec. 19, 1972”, circumscribed, ”America – Challenger / Apollo XVII The Beginning”. Coin measures 1.25” and is made of sterling silver, housed in its original ”Robbins Company” plastic box with an ”41” sticker on the bottom. Fine. With an LOA from Apollo 13 astronaut Jack Swigert’s sister. Sold for $56,250.

Apollo 17 Flown Robbins Medallion — Sold for $26,969

Flown Robbins medal from Apollo 17, one of only 80 flown medallions and therefore the scarcest of the Apollo missions. Medal has the low serial number of 30 stamped on the rim, along with ”F” for flown and the Robbins sterling mark. With the raised mission insignia on the obverse, featuring the profile of Apollo, the Greek sun god, along with the surnames of the crew: Gene Cernan, Ron Evans and Harrison Schmitt. Reverse features the launch, landing and return dates, along with ”Taurus-Littrow”, the landing site on the moon, encircled by ”America XVII”, ”America-Challenger” and ”The Beginning”. Robbins sterling mark and ”F30” appear on the edge. Medallion measures 1.375” in diameter. Near fine condition. From the personal collection of astronaut Story Musgrave and with his LOA. Sold for $26,969.

United States Flag Flown to the Moon — Sold for $4,576

U.S. flag flown to the moon on the Apollo 17 mission in December 1972. Flag is affixed to a NASA certificate to NASA engineer Donald E. Holkan reading, ”This flag was carried to the Moon aboard the spaceship America / Apollo XVII December 7-19, 1972”. Flag measures 5.75” x 4.25” and certificate measures 13” x 10.125”. Overall in very good condition with light toning. Rare U.S. flag from America’s last lunar mission. Sold for $4,576.

U.S. Flag Flown Lunar Surface During — Sold for $4,028

American flag flown to the moon and carried to the lunar surface during Apollo 17, the last U.S. lunar mission. Flag measures 5.5” x 4”, affixed to a presentation certificate which reads ”This flag was carried to the Taurus-Littrow Valley of the Moon-December 1972”. Flag and certificate were presented to William F. Reveley for his ”Dedicated and Exceptional Service and Contributions to the Success of the Apollo Lunar Program”. 14” x 11” certificate is lightly toned with a few nicks, mostly confined to margins. Overall in very good condition. Sold for $4,028.

Jack Swigert’s Unflown Medal — Sold for $1,470

Apollo 17 unflown Robbins medal, serial number 228, owned by Jack Swigert. Sterling silver medal commemorates Apollo 17 as the most recent lunar landing conducted by NASA to date. Pictorial obverse is cast with mission insignia, featuring stylized design elements of the U.S. flag and an eagle, alongside a bust in profile of Greek god Apollo. Scene is circumscribed by title, “Apollo XVII / Cernan-Evans-Schmitt”. Reverse reads, “Launch / Dec. 6, 1972 / Taurus-Littrow / Dec. 11, 1972 / Entry / Dec. 19, 1972”, circumscribed, “America – Challenger / Apollo XVII The Beginning”. Coin measures 1.25” and bears serial number and sterling stamp on its rim, housed in its original Robbins plastic box with the serial number sticker on the bottom. Some soiling or adhesive residue to coin, else fine. With an LOA from Apollo 13 astronaut Jack Swigert’s sister. Sold for $1,470.

Gene Cernan Signed Apollo 17 Launch Photo — Sold for $1,450

Gene Cernan signed photo of the Apollo 17 launch, the only Apollo mission to launch at night. Dramatic 19.5″ x 16″ photo is elegantly signed by Cernan in black ink across the fiery blaze, “Gene Cernan / Apollo XVII”. Framed with two commemorative covers cancelled from Cape Canaveral on 7 and 19 December 1972, the launch and splashdown dates, as well as an Apollo 17 patch. Entire presentation measures 27″ x 27″. Near fine condition. With COA from Novaspace. Sold for $1,450.

Gene Cernan Signed Apollo 17 Flown Lunar Map — Sold for $1,100

Dramatic photo of the moon’s Tsiolkovsky Crater, flown on the Apollo 17 mission as certified by Mission Commander Gene Cernan. Photo originates from the Apollo 17 Lunar Landmark Map Book, used by the astronauts to identify different parts of the moon from lunar orbit. Map plate measures 10.625″ x 8″, with label signed by Cernan on margin, certifying that the map was flown on Apollo 17 “to study the Moon from lunar orbit”. The Tsiolkovsky crater is on the far side of the moon, facing away from the Earth, and therefore only visible to the astronauts. Accompanied by photo of Cernan with the Apollo 17 Lunar Landmark Map Book. Outstanding space collectible from the last Apollo mission. Sold for $1,100.

Gene Cernan Signed Photo with Extensive Handwritten Quote — Sold for $1,000

Gene Cernan signed 20″ x 16″ photo, beautifully showing the United States flag planted on the lunar surface. Cernan adds a lengthy handwritten quote above his signature, the words spoken before he left the moon: “I’d like to just say what I believe history will record – That America’s challenge of today has forged man’s destiny of tomorrow. And, as we leave the Moon at Taurus-Littrow, we leave as we came and, God willing as we shall return, with peace and hope for all mankind. God Speed the Crew of Apollo XVII / Gene Cernan / Apollo 17”. Silk finish photo on Kodak Endura paper is near fine. Sold for $1,000.

Red Number NASA Photo Crescent Earthrise Over the Moon — Sold for $810

Stunning NASA red number photo, taken during the Apollo 17 mission, showing a crescent Earthrise over the pockmarked lunar surface. With NASA red number at upper left, “S17-152-23274”. Glossy photo on fiber-based paper shows appropriate Kodak watermark on verso, “This Paper Manufactured by Kodak”. Kodak segued to this watermark from “A Kodak Paper” in 1972, before the Apollo 17 launch date in December 1972. Photo measures 10″ x 8″. Minor toning, overall near fine condition. Sold for $810.

Thanks for checking out some of our Apollo 17 memorabilia! Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions. Learn about some of the Apollo 8 items we’ve sold.

FAQs

How do I consign or sell my Apollo 17 memorabilia?
It’s never been easier to sell your items at Nate D. Sanders Auctions. Email a description and images of your item to [email protected] and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can with a free appraisal.

This sounds great and I’d like to move forward. What’s the consignment process like at Nate D. Sanders Auctions?
We’ll send you more information about our auction house along with an agreement to review. Your item will appear in our next auction. Unlike many auction houses, we hold monthly auctions and pay you within an industry-leading 45 days following the auction.

What factors determine the value of Apollo 17 memorabilia?
The value of your memorabilia can vary based on condition, subject matter and provenance.