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Author Topic:   Displaying NASA Flight Awareness coins
Aztecdoug
Member

Posts: 1405
From: Huntington Beach
Registered: Feb 2000

posted 10-30-2005 07:35 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Aztecdoug   Click Here to Email Aztecdoug     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I have been slowly building a collection of MFA coins and I was curious how you display yours?

I was looking at these types of holders.

But, one of them describes using super glue to seal the coin in its little holder. That bothers me a little bit.

Does anybody have a hot tip?

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 10-30-2005 07:42 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Doug, not only did you just tap into a topic I have long been pondering but also linked to the closest thing I have found to an answer! Great minds, I guess...

I've been to dozens of coin shops, showing the MFA medallions to their owners and not one has even had a clue how to accomodate them. The closest advice I received to a possible (but proven expensive) solution was to seek a plastics shop that could cut custom sized insert holes into a thick acrylic board. I like this idea - and have seen it done by at least one collector - but my problem is what happens when a new MFA is released? (And, from what I hear, one may be coming soon.)

So for now, my MFAs and other medallions are in a small box, inside a cabinet, safely stored away. Their only display is online. Any and all suggestions would be most appreciated by this collector as well...

TRS
Member

Posts: 721
From: Wellington, New Zealand
Registered: Mar 2003

posted 10-31-2005 03:45 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for TRS   Click Here to Email TRS     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
This is a topic also very close to my heart!

I spent a while talking this over with a few people - fortunately my father-in-law is the medals curator for the local army museum and the regional museum so I got some good advice there, I also talked to my conservator and we came up with the following:

I collect two of each medallion so the obverse and reverse can be displayed. The MFA's I display in a framed presentation with a complete crew-signed item and, if possible, the related certificate presentation.

My conservator uses hinge mounts for the paper materials and a thicker mat into which he cuts (well his computerised cutter anyway) holes to a size that the medallions can be held without damage. If we surface mount the medallions there is an easy-removal archival grade gum that can be used - I'll ask and see what it is and post the information later.

Examples of the presentations are:

Apollo 8 MFA plus Eastern Airlines medallion with flown metal component

Skylab

ASTP - with Russian presentation medallion and certificate

The Orbital Four held by Greig (my conservator who lives at the other end of the country from me but the freight is worth it!)
And the pride of my collection - the signed matte with mounted Apollo program patch. It has only been in NZ for about 6 months since 1999 to be sized for framing - it is currently back in the US and has had a large number of signatures added sine this photo was taken - I've also managed to add the silver version of the Apollo 30th Anniversary medallion so that will look very cool when it is all back and finished!
Still looking for the Apollo 11 crew-signed piece to round out the first four...

Dennis Beatty
Member

Posts: 356
From:
Registered: Jan 2000

posted 10-31-2005 12:15 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Dennis Beatty   Click Here to Email Dennis Beatty     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I had a custom made holder produced for me by Capital Plastics. I'll try to remember to post an image soon. As for the problem with additions, yes, that is one which I've not solved. My holder contains every medallion from NACA to the Apollo 30th Anniversary. Any new or duplicate medallions are put into "Airtite" holders and then stored.

snf13
Member

Posts: 74
From: Houston
Registered: May 2004

posted 11-02-2005 08:44 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for snf13   Click Here to Email snf13     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
As my walls are filled with other space things (including Life, Newsweek, and Time magazines, etc... depicting space history), I opt for a rather simple, and affordable method of display. I use the old fashioned black textured cardboard display cases with a glass top to display my buttons and coins (unless I received the coin from work in a special case). The button cases have that white fuzz in there and the coin ones have a plastic insert with square compartments. I leave three or four of these out to enjoy and flip through, add to, and show. The others are put away and I can alternate at any time. While it is not archival quality, it does protect the items from exposure to air.

TRS
Member

Posts: 721
From: Wellington, New Zealand
Registered: Mar 2003

posted 11-02-2005 11:26 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for TRS   Click Here to Email TRS     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Greig has been back in touch about the tape he uses to mount medallions - I've cut and pasted his reply below in case it is of use. He's great to work with and is happy for anyone to be directly in touch if you want to know more.
The tapes I use,

The heavy duty one is by 3M they call it acrylic foam tape

another I use a lot of is called Framers delight, (cant remember brand name)

depending on the weight of the work. Hope that helps

MScherzi
Member

Posts: 80
From: California
Registered: Apr 2000

posted 11-11-2005 11:42 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for MScherzi   Click Here to Email MScherzi     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
My concern about the display for military challenge coins is that they say to use super glue. I'd be worried about the gases fuming the medals and damaging them.

TRS
Member

Posts: 721
From: Wellington, New Zealand
Registered: Mar 2003

posted 07-28-2007 04:39 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for TRS   Click Here to Email TRS     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I'm looking for a source of those round plastic protective cases that the silver Space Flight Awareness medals come in as I've had a breakage. They are the ones that the medallion fits into exactly and it clips shut to prevent are getting in.

Any leads from the coin & medallion enthusiasts out there?

Rizz
Member

Posts: 1208
From: Upcountry, Maui, Hawaii
Registered: Mar 2002

posted 07-29-2007 01:57 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Rizz     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Try Air-Tite Coin Capsules or do a Google search for Coin Supply Air-Tites closer to home. Let me know the size, I may have one that I can send you.

TRS
Member

Posts: 721
From: Wellington, New Zealand
Registered: Mar 2003

posted 07-29-2007 03:59 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for TRS   Click Here to Email TRS     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Outstanding - thank you - exactly what I was looking for.

TRS
Member

Posts: 721
From: Wellington, New Zealand
Registered: Mar 2003

posted 08-03-2007 08:45 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for TRS   Click Here to Email TRS     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
They were definitely the guys but I need to buy 22 of them before they will do an order for me!

I'm looking for a single H38 size direct fit - would you mind contacting me offline about your offer?

nasamad
Member

Posts: 2121
From: Essex, UK
Registered: Jul 2001

posted 08-17-2007 10:12 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for nasamad   Click Here to Email nasamad     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Just coming back to this thread after a while, does anyone know the diameter of the MFA medallions? I want to order some cases from the place mentioned above but my coins are in storage at my mothers address.

dsenechal
Member

Posts: 539
From:
Registered: Dec 2002

posted 09-18-2007 04:17 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for dsenechal   Click Here to Email dsenechal     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I found a great source for small quantities of Air Tite coin holders. ebay ID gbcoinauctions (no, that's not me!). Just a couple of dollars for ten. I believe that Robbins medallions have varying diameters, but he's got a very good selection. The version with the inner foam rings really work and look nice. Obviously, these wouldn't work very well with Apollo 8 and some of the other odd size medallions, but otherwise, they're a great way to safely store your Robbins medallion and still hold and admire it. Dave

mustang05
Member

Posts: 11
From: Kansas USA
Registered: Mar 2005

posted 12-21-2008 01:03 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for mustang05     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Can anyone suggest a coin holder? I need a separate hold from an Apollo 8, 11, & Skylab MFA and the "new" Apollo 7 flown coin.

Nothing to big, just a simple way to display them in my space cabinet.

Editor's note: Threads merged.

rjurek349
Member

Posts: 1190
From: Northwest Indiana
Registered: Jan 2002

posted 12-21-2008 02:35 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for rjurek349   Click Here to Email rjurek349     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Outside of the airtights or the slabs, I am also a fan of this company's coin display possibilities, especially the photo mount plaques. They look great - and allow for good photo customization.

Aztecdoug
Member

Posts: 1405
From: Huntington Beach
Registered: Feb 2000

posted 12-21-2008 08:18 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Aztecdoug   Click Here to Email Aztecdoug     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
In the end I went to a coin store and bought little round plastic holders. They also sold these tiny little clear plastic easels that I set them on.

That was a quick and dirty way to display them for me. It works out well because they can easily be arranged around the other artifacts in my display case without taking up too much of a footprint.

bthumble
Member

Posts: 267
From: Houston, Texas
Registered: Nov 2007

posted 08-17-2009 08:09 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for bthumble   Click Here to Email bthumble     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I have some of the coins that have flown metal - such as STS-1, Skylab, ASTP, etc. Has anybody found coin holders to display them in - similar to the type that came with the Apollo 40th and NASA 50th anniversary coins?

Editor's note: Threads merged.

xlsteve
Member

Posts: 391
From: Holbrook MA, USA
Registered: Jul 2008

posted 08-18-2009 07:40 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for xlsteve   Click Here to Email xlsteve     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by bthumble:
Has anybody found coin holders to display them in - similar to the type that came with the Apollo 40th and NASA 50th anniversary coins?
I have the few that I own in Air-Tites which are very similar to ones the Winco coins come in, and I got them here. The Apollo 11 MFA coin is just about the same size as a half dollar, but If you measure the coin you have, you can choose the size you need. Also, if you go with the holder that uses the foam insert it's a bit more forgiving if your measurement is a millimeter or so off. You can get the small stands there as well. They also offer wall-mounted displays that accommodate the air-tite holders.

Dennis Beatty
Member

Posts: 356
From:
Registered: Jan 2000

posted 04-06-2011 05:07 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Dennis Beatty   Click Here to Email Dennis Beatty     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Here is a piece which I put together with both the Robbins STS-114 medallion and the STS-114 Team award.

bthumble
Member

Posts: 267
From: Houston, Texas
Registered: Nov 2007

posted 12-17-2014 12:17 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for bthumble   Click Here to Email bthumble     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Has anyone found a way to store the coins? I have looked at some online sites but nothing that looks like it might work.

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