Posts: 319
From: Michigan
Registered: Nov 1999

posted April 09, 2008 06:11 PM               

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Robbins Medals collectors can now enter their collections as Signature Sets in the NGC Registry.

This is quite an accomplishment and NGC has even assigned the "Robbins Astronaut Medals" their own designated space.

Although the Signature Sets are non-competitive they provide a wonderful venue to display your collection and to expose others who may have not been familiar with them. I suppose a competitive set is possible in the future.

You can read further about what the Registry Sets are all about.

The Registry Sets have been a real driver and contributor to the bull market in rare coins and medals.

Here is a link to see the two sets so far registered.

Posts: 651
From: NJ
Registered: Jan 2004

Posts: 319
From: Michigan
Registered: Nov 1999

posted April 09, 2008 06:37 PM               

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quote:

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Originally posted by 4allmankind:
Howard, is there any way to see how many Robbins from each mission have thus far been encapsulated by NGC?

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Jay - NGC keeps a population report on all graded coins and medals. The coin report is published monthly, but they don't yet publish a medal report. You may be able to contact them and get a verbal, I am not certain. In my opinion, there are only about 100 or so medals so far encapsulated.

If you haven't yet seen an encapsulated Robbins Medal, here is another link where one is pictured. I believe it is the way of the future for the medals, especially with their values rising. Grade is of little import at this time, but people (non-experts) want to be certain they have a genuine Robbins and whether it was flown or not. Also, they look incredible in the holders and both sides can be easily viewed without the risk of taking it in and out of one of the plastic boxes. Now you can let the children handle them.

Posts: 254
From:
Registered: Jan 2001

Posts: 319
From: Michigan
Registered: Nov 1999

posted April 10, 2008 07:48 AM               

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Originally posted by SRB:
The gold Robbins medallions are spectacular. Will there be pictures posted of the silver set? Also, the medallions are graded, but it isn't self evident why the grades are different on the medallions.

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Steve - Anyone is welcome to create their own set and to post images of them. There is no cost. I believe that for a nominal fee ($3 or so) NGC will image a coin or medal that is submitted for encapsulation. The owner of the other set on the site who has silver medals has elected at this time not to provide images.
The medals are graded because that is a requirement of NGC. I believe it has to do with their ability to create a population the medals. Grading is a real specialty. I have been collecting coins and medals for years and can't grade very well at all once you get into the (MS) Mint State category. It all has to do with nicks, hairlines, eye appeal, etc. As I have previously stated, the grading on these great medals is secondary, but that's what it took for NGC to get involved. However, I can envision a day when hundreds or thousands of the medals are graded and collectors then begin to look for the finest graded examples in order to have the bragging rights to the finest set. I also believe at that time, values will be affected by grade. That is a side-effect that cannot be avoided and was not the intention of the NGC encapsulation of the Robbins.

Posts: 7
From: Northbrook,IL 60062
Registered: Jan 2006

Posts: 231
From: Medford, Oregon, 97504
Registered: Jan 2000

posted April 10, 2008 03:09 PM               

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I am happy that NGC is providing the Robbins medallions with a bit of the well deserved spotlight. My only disappointment is that NGC can only encase the round medallions... unless they use a holder with an oversized circular cut out, which to my eye looks a bit odd. But none-the-less, I have had all of my round Robbins medallions graded and encased ("slabbed" to use the slang expression). The service is exemplary.

Following the example of Howard's work with the Robbins medallions, I worked with NGC to accept for review my collection of Manned Flight Awareness medallions. Now, all of my precious keepsakes have been authenticated, graded and slabbed. They look amazing!! And where I was able to provide provenance, the tag in the holder lists the astronaut from whom the medallion was purchased. In the future, there will be zero problem with authenticity. I don't know how to post images, but if there is interest, I can try to figure it out and post a couple of items from my collection.

Posts: 319
From: Michigan
Registered: Nov 1999

posted April 10, 2008 03:55 PM               

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quote:

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Originally posted by Dennis Beatty:
My only disappointment is that NGC can only encase the round medallions... unless they use a holder with an oversized circular cut out, which to my eye looks a bit odd.

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I haven't found a Robbins that NGC has not been able to slab yet. Yes, they only use round cut-outs, but I think they still look great. Here is a link to the Apollo 7 Robbins used in NGC's ads for an example.

Good work on the Manned Flight Awareness Medals.

Posts: 254
From:
Registered: Jan 2001