2003 First Commemorative Mint, United States Silver Eagle, 1 Ounce .999 Fine Silver Coin, for the Space Shuttle Columbia, February 1, 2003.

The observe of this Special Edition 2003 Dollar features an image taken by the Columbia on January 18, 2003. It is of the SPACEHAB Research Double Module in the Space Shuttle Columbia's payload bay and vertical stabilizer, back-dropped by the blackness of space and a thin slice of Earth's horizon.

The reverse features the Columbia liftoff on January 16, 2003.

On February 1, 2003, the Space Shuttle Columbia broke up over Texas while re-entering the Earth's atmosphere at the end of an historic 16-day flight. It was carrying 7 astronauts, including the first Israeli to fly in space. It was traveling about 12,500 MPH at an altitude of about 203,000 feet. Shortly after the tragedy, President George W. Bush announced that "Columbia is lost; there are no survivors."

The coin comes in a black plastic case with history of this historic event and Certificate of Authenticity.

The coin does not stay in place in the hole provided in the cardboard piece of the presentation case, and therefore is not a very good method of presentation, but the coin is sealed in a clear plastic case and has no wear or damage.

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