posted 11-22-2014 04:07 AM               

They took one of the Apollo 11 "contains flown metal" footprint pins, shaved some metal off the side, and are selling it as "METAL SHAVINGS contains APOLLO 11 Command Module metal flown to/orbited the moon".

Are we seriously at a point where collectors are clamoring for this stuff so much that people need to destroy collectibles like that footprint pin so someone can buy metal shavings that contain metal that contained metal from the Apollo 11 CM?

As a collector, I don't know what angers me more about this — the fact that they destroyed a footprint pin for the sake of trying to make more money or that the amount of flown metal the purchaser would be getting (if any) is likely negligible at best.

posted 11-22-2014 08:17 AM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Mike_The_First:
the fact that they destroyed a footprint pin...

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Also, the flown metal content is from an Apollo command module that flew to the moon, not necessarily Apollo 11's Columbia.

posted 11-22-2014 05:59 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
While I agree it is ridiculous, don't feel so bad for the loss of the pin. There were 20,120 produced.

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Plus, that's also my other point: with over 20,000 made, the amount of flown metal in each will be fairly negligible, as you're getting less than 1/20,000 of whatever piece of metal went into them (assuming equal distribution).

If they give you the shavings of even 1/50 of a pin (which, let's face it, is pretty generous), then (again, assuming equal distribution), you just bought less than 1/1,000,000 of whatever flown metal went into them.

But the thing is, people buy them because they don't know better. Their target isn't the savvy collector, but, rather, the hobbyist who sees cheap metal shavings flown to the moon and doesn't know enough or think it through to look into what they're actually buying.

The seller isn't exactly up front about those fractions or how common the original pin is (use of the word "obtained" generally causes people to think "rare").

Not to mention that the provenance is dead and we're supposed to just assume that we're getting metal from the pin at all.

I'm just waiting for someone to take the shavings, make a limited run "contains flown metal" coin, then someone else to take the coin and shave metal off it.

Although I will give them that it's a pretty good investment, because of their 60 day, no questions asked, 110% money back guarantee, where they'll refund your money + 10% for any reason within 60 days.

posted 11-23-2014 04:44 AM               

Sellers will always look to maximize profits by listing for the highest price that they think they can get. Just look at the Buzz Aldrin signed book market for proof of that.