This series of large high-relief medals available in bronze and pure silver has always been very popular among both medal and space memorabilia collectors. Marketed by Presidential Art Medals of Englewood Ohio all were designed by Ralph J. Menconi and struck by the Medallic Art Company.

The medals are all 2 ½ inches in diameter. The pure silver (.999+ fine) issues were limited to 10,000 serial numbered pieces while the bronze had no published issue limit.

Designed by distinguished artist and sculptor Ralph J. Menconi of Pleasantville, New York each issue features the busts of the three man Apollo crew who flew the mission on the obverse. The reverse of all except the Apollo 13 and 17 medals features lunar images related to the mission. The Apollo 13 has a simple reverse design that was quickly done replacing the original after the actual moon landing had to be cancelled. On the Apollo 17 medal Menconi moved the mission related design elements to the obverse with the astronaut’s busts and used the reverse as a tribute to man’s exploration of space. The reverse proclaims “The Earth is the cradle of humanity but mankind can not live in his cradle forever.”