After nearly a full day on the surface of the moon, the astronauts of the Apollo 11 mission reconnected in the command module as Armstrong and Aldrin returned from the moon’s surface. The two men rejoined Michael Collins by using the Eagle lunar lander’s rockets to boost off the moon and return to orbit. The moment the astronauts began their trek home from the moon is captured on a new Apollo 11 Series Silver Round
Round Highlights:
Each 1 oz Apollo 11 Earthbound Silver Round from the North American Mint is a beautiful proof-like round. The products have contrasting frosted designs and mirrored background fields. The rounds are housed inside of protective air-tite capsules from the NA Mint to secure the round and each one has its own serial number engraved onto the edge of the round.
Apollo 11’s mission was to land mankind on the surface of a different celestial body for the first time in human history. The two men tasked with this landing were Commander Neil Armstrong and Lunar Module Pilot Buzz Aldrin, along with Command Module Michael Collins. After several days in space and 21.5 hours on the moon, the crew of Apollo 11 began their return trek to Earth.
On the obverse of 1 oz Apollo 11 Earthbound Silver Rounds is the image of the command module as it slings around the moon to return to Earth. The crew jettisoned the Eagle landing module in space and used only the command module to take advantage of the moon’s gravitational pull to whip around and power themselves back toward Earth.
The reverse side of Apollo 11 Earthbound Silver Rounds features a design inspired by the mission patch worn by all three astronauts in the Apollo 11 crew. The name of the lunar lander, Eagle, inspired the use of an American bald eagle in the patch’s design. The eagle clutches an olive branch in its talons as it lands on the surface of the moon with Earth visible in distant space in the background.