posted 05-09-2019 01:14 PM               

50th anniversary of Apollo 11 moon landing silver coin

On 9 May 2019, the Federal Mint Swissmint has issued the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 moon landing silver coin.

Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong were the first humans to step onto the moon's surface with the Apollo 11 mission on 21 July 1969. Before the astronaut "Buzz" Aldrin hoisted the American flag on the moon almost 50 years ago, he first hung up a Swiss solar sail. This so-called solar wind sail of the University of Bern was the only non-American experiment on board the Apollo 11.

The "Solar Wind Composition Experiment" was developed by the Bernese physicists under the leadership of Professor Johannes Geiss of the Institute of Physics to verify the existence of the solar wind that was suspected at the time but could not be measured from Earth. The simplicity and low weight of the solar sail had convinced NASA: it was made of a differently coated aluminium foil measuring 140 x 30cm, which was oriented as directly as possible into the sun to capture any solar wind particles. The foil was then analysed in the laboratory after returning from the moon.

The simple, lightweight and successful experiment was repeated on all lunar missions except the last Apollo 17 mission and the failed Apollo 13 mission.

In honour of the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 moon landing and the first highlight in space research at the University of Bern, Swissmint has issued a commemorative coin. The 20-franc silver coin was designed by Swissmint engraver Remo Mascherini.

It is available since 9 May 2019 in the qualities 'uncirculated' and 'proof' in a presentation case at our online-shop or from selected coin dealers and some banks.