(1985) Medal Space Shuttle - Columbia Silver

Coin Details

Description

The 1985 Space Shuttle Columbia silver medal is part of a series of .999 fine silver commemoratives honoring the individual orbiters of NASA's Space Shuttle fleet. Columbia (OV-102) was the first Space Shuttle to reach orbit, launching on April 12, 1981 for the STS-1 mission. Named after the Boston-based sloop Columbia Rediviva — the first American ship to circumnavigate the globe — the orbiter carried the legacy of exploration in its very designation. The obverse features a depiction of the Space Shuttle Columbia, capturing the vehicle in its orbital configuration with payload bay doors open. Each medal in this series is dedicated to a specific orbiter, and the Columbia piece identifies the vehicle by name along with key mission details. The reverse carries complementary space program imagery with the series title and additional inscriptions relating to the shuttle program's purpose of providing routine access to low Earth orbit. Struck in .999 fine silver at 35mm diameter and approximately 31.17 grams (one troy ounce), these medals feature a reeded edge with an individual serial number — an unusual security feature for privately issued medals that adds a layer of authenticity and limited-edition appeal. By 1985, Columbia had completed seven missions and was undergoing modifications that would keep it grounded until 1986. The orbiter would eventually fly twenty-eight missions over twenty-two years, contributing to the deployment of satellites, the conduct of scientific experiments, and the servicing of the Hubble Space Telescope before its loss during reentry on February 1, 2003, which claimed the lives of all seven STS-107 crew members.

Rarity Notes

One troy ounce .999 fine silver, serialized on edge. Part of a Space Shuttle orbiter series. Limited mintage, exact figures not published. The serial numbering indicates controlled production.

Cross References

PCGS #974428; Space Shuttle Columbia (OV-102); first flight STS-1, April 12, 1981