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Author
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Topic: How many pennies have flown in space?
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 52846
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 07-24-2024 12:16 PM
   
An upcoming STEM-focused payload ("STEMonstration on the Screaming Balloon") being launched to the International Space Station includes inflating two balloons, one with a penny inside and one with a hex nut inside, to demonstrate the differences in centripetal force in microgravity.It got me thinking: how many pennies have flown into space? In the wake of the Apollo 15 "unauthorized" items investigation, NASA policy banned astronauts from flying currency: Items such as... coins that, by their nature, lend themselves to exploitation by the recipients... will not be approved for flight. So there are no pennies in any of the personal preference kits that flew on Apollo 17 through present day. Are any known to have been flown prior to December 1972?The official flight kits were held to a different standard, as the items carried inside are/were intended for organizations and not individuals. Is anyone aware of a penny (or pennies) being flown in the OFK? The only other penny that I am aware of flying is the 1909 "VDB" cent that was flown as a calibration target for the Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) on the Mars Science Laboratory "Curiosity" rover. |
rjurek349
Member Posts: 1238
From: Northwest Indiana
Registered: Jan 2002
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posted 07-24-2024 01:53 PM
Interesting topic. Given my focus on space flown numismatic items, I love reading about all things numismatic flown in space. While paper money has been flying on missions in various denominations since the first Mercury flight -- coins and medallions of course have flown as well. In my collection I have a gold $2.5 coin flown on a Gemini mission, and a gold "celestia" private-mint coin flown on Mercury, for example. And of course, I have many $1 dollar bills and $2 bills flown on mission from across the programs. I've spent a lot of time talking to the astronauts and ground support crew members who flew items to get an idea of what was onboard many of the missions. As for pennies on Mercury and Gemini, I am not aware of specifics, but would not be surprised to find out there were some flown. From my research, I am aware of a US penny flown on Apollo 11 (by Neil Armstrong, no less). A couple of pennies flew on Apollo 14 — one as part of a multi-coin set, and a 1948-D penny. On Apollo 15, a 1969-D penny and a 1970-D penny flew for members of the support crew. Also flown on this mission for support crew members was an 1845 Large Cent, and an Indian head penny (date not known). Of course, across all of the Apollo missions, coinage from other countries (Poland, Canada, Germany, Mexico, etc.) have flown, as have silver dollars, half dollars, pieces of eight, various gold coins, and more. I doubt we will ever have an exact inventory, just given the nature of things and the private nature of some of the record keeping, but the above pennies are the ones that I am aware of from various reputable sources. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 52846
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 07-24-2024 02:07 PM
Thanks Rich! That was exactly the type of info I was hoping you or others in the community might have. Do you know if there are photos online (or elsewhere) of any of the Apollo flown pennies (in particularly the Armstrong flown cent)? |
rjurek349
Member Posts: 1238
From: Northwest Indiana
Registered: Jan 2002
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posted 07-24-2024 02:13 PM
You are welcome, Robert. I am not aware of any photos of these various pennies. Interestingly enough, there was a two cent piece that Armstrong flew on Gemini 8 that was part of the prior Armstrong family estate sales via Heritage. That cent piece sold for over $32,000. There is a picture, and article, that can be found at Numismatic News. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 52846
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 07-24-2024 02:25 PM
Thanks again. Searching for a "cent" instead of a "penny" also brought up a 1793 United States wreath cent that was flown inside the the inflight medical kit aboard Gemini 7, as sold by Stack's Bowers in 2015. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 52846
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 08-04-2024 10:36 AM
collectSPACE Pennies to heaven: NASA launches two cents to space stationThey say a penny doesn't go far these days, to which NASA has now added its two cents. Two pennies lifted off for the International Space Station (ISS) Sunday (Aug. 4), on a mission that will ultimately log millions of miles. ... The two pennies now in space are not the first to leave Earth, but are still a rare "change" to what is typically launched.  |
David Silcox
Member Posts: 60
From: near Lancaster, Pa.
Registered: Oct 2008
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posted 08-04-2024 08:02 PM
We have a penny in our collection that is certified as flown on the October 4, 2004 X-Prize flight. The date is a 1964-D. | |
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