Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Commemorative Labels

Numismatic Guaranty Corporation® (NGC®) has officially licensed the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (ASF) logo for special NGC certification labels that celebrate the US Mint’s Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Commemorative coins. The coins go on sale at noon on January 24, 2019.

The Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Commemorative coins are among the most highly anticipated US Mint issues of the last decade. The coins are particularly noteworthy for their curved design, which resembles the view of the moon’s surface from an astronaut’s helmet.

Click images to enlarge.

Clad half dollars, silver dollars in one-ounce and five-ounce sizes and gold five dollar coins are being struck. Notably, both the one-ounce and five-ounce silver dollars are being struck in .999 fine silver instead of the usual .900 fineness. This is the first time that a US commemorative silver dollar has been struck in .999 fineness, and this composition will be reflected with a notation on the NGC certification label for the one-ounce dollars.

Also significant is the curved silver five-ounce coin. The largest curved coin ever issued by the US Mint with a diameter of three inches, its production presented numerous challenges. These were ultimately overcome and the Apollo 11 silver five-ounce is expected to become one of the most desirable US modern coins in recent memory.

In addition, a set is available with a one Apollo 11 Proof Half Dollar and one Enhanced Reverse Proof Kennedy Half Dollar. This is the first Enhanced Reverse Proof Half Dollar minted by the United States. To learn more, click here.

The legislation that authorized the Apollo 11 coins designated the ASF as one of three organizations that would benefit from a surcharge applied to the sale of these coins. The additional beneficiaries are the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum and the Astronaut Memorial Foundation.

ASF was created in 1984 by the six surviving Mercury program astronauts as well as the widow of the seventh. Each year, ASF provides more than 50 scholarships to outstanding college students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The six manned flights of the Mercury program enabled NASA to master the technology necessary to put astronauts in orbit. This critical step paved the way for the Gemini and Apollo programs that followed, culminating with the Apollo 11 moon landing in July 1969. That historic mission is celebrated by the coins being released this month.

The NGC ASF label is the default label for Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coins submitted to NGC and carries an automatic $5 fee. A royalty will be paid to the ASF by NGC for each label used.

“NGC’s leadership in third-party coin certification made it an ideal partner to collaborate with ASF to promote its important mission and the Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Program,” says Tammy Sudler, President & CEO of ASF. “NGC-certified Apollo 11 Commemorative Coins encapsulated with the NGC ASF label are unique and attractive collectibles that not only honor one of history’s greatest achievements but also support the mission of ASF.”

“The Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coins celebrate one of mankind’s greatest triumphs,” adds Mark Salzberg, NGC Chairman and NGC Grading Finalizer. “NGC is pleased to work with the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation to honor this event and these coins with an attractive label that is sure to appeal to coin collectors and space enthusiasts alike.”

Submission instructions

• Submit the Apollo 11 50th Anniversary coins under the Modern grading tier or higher.
• Select Double Thick Holder (+$5) for the one-ounce Silver Dollar and NGC Oversize Holder (+$20) for the five-ounce Silver Dollar.
• The default label (for a $5 fee) is NGC’s Apollo 11 Label #1128 or Label #1140 for the five-ounce silver (shown below). This label is also the default label for Early Releases and First Releases designations.
  
     
   
• If the Early Releases or First Releases designation is desired (+$10), select Early Releases or First Releases on your submission form. Write Early Releases Label #378 or Blue First Releases Label #379 to get the accompanying label. Otherwise, Apollo 11 Label #1128 or #1140 will be used (+$5).





• To qualify for Early Releases or First Releases, coins must be received by NGC or an NGC-approved Depository before the Early Releases/First Releases cutoff date.


• If you want NGC's Standard Brown Label (shown below), write Standard Brown Label #377.



• If you would like Mint packaging returned, select “Return Mint Packaging” in section 3 of the NGC Submission Form. The fee is $5 plus the cost of shipping.

Questions? Contact NGC Customer Service at service@NGCcoin.com or 1-800-NGC-COIN (1-800-642-2646).

NGC’s First Day of Issue designation is available for qualifying bulk submissions only. Contact Scott Heller at 941-360-3990 or SHeller@NGCcoin.com or Miles Standish at Miles@NGCcoin.com or 949-922-0515 for bulk submissions.

Collectors Society paid members can submit their coins directly to NGC. Not an NGC Collectors Society member? Paid memberships start at just $25/year. Join today.