SPUTNIK FIRST ARTIFICAL EARTH SATELLITE COIN BRIGHT NICKEL GREAT CONDITION 1.3" DIAMETER
Mint condition 1.3" BRIGHT NICKEL COIN ORIGINAL MINTED IN 1960'S
Sputnik 1 was the first artificial Earth satellite It was launched into an elliptical low earth orbit by the Soviet Union on 4 October 1957. It sent a radio signal back to Earth for three weeks before its three silver-zinc batteries ran out. It fell back into the atmosphere on 4 January 1958.
It was a polished metal sphere 58 cm (23 in) in diameter with four external radio antennas to broadcast radio pulses. Its radio signal was easily detectable by amateur radio operators.