Collecting by subject can be an interesting thing to do, but you have to find the balance between something common enough that there's something to collect, but rare enough that it actually takes enough effort to make it interesting. Quite some time ago I decided to collect any currency I could find depicting dragons, even if it was fantasy/novelty notes. About the time I became aware of the 2019 US commemoratives for the Apollo 11 mission, I decided to try to find anything featuring space, especially on US coins. Oddly this wasn't a subject they bothered honoring as often as you'd think, but they're out there. So far in my US space collection: Eisenhower/SBA dollars (Apollo 11 mission patch on reverse; also really love the bicentennial design on the Eisenhower dollar with the Liberty Bell over the moon) 2019 Apollo 11 half dollar and silver dollar 2021 Christine McAuliffe silver dollar 2022 Sally Ride quarter (whole roll of 2022-D) Recently got an album for SBA dollars, all 12 non-proof issues fit on the first page, so what am I supposed to do with the second page? Decided any space-themed small dollars can go there, and have 4 so far: 2019-D Native American dollar, honoring Mary Golda Ross and American Indians in the space program 2019-D Innovation dollar, for Delaware, for Annie Jump Cannon's classification of the stars 2020-D Innovation dollar, for Maryland, for the Hubble space telescope 2024-D Innovation dollar, for Alabama, for the Saturn V rocket And next year Texas and Florida will both have space-themed innovation dollars. Hoping some other states in the future have some too; guess we'll see. Honorable mention, since it's not a US coin, but does honor the US space program; have the 1989 Marshall Islands $5 coin marking the 20th anniversary of the moon landing.
I should add that one to my collection eventually; tbh I kind of forgot about that one lol. If we're counting that, we should also count the 2004 Florida state quarter that also depicts the Space Shuttle. I do own that both in business strike and proof. Interesting fact about the Columbus commemorative, it is the first (and to date, the only, though the Marine Corps commemorative will be the 2nd such next year) subject to be used in US commemorative coins twice, as Columbus was also commemorated in 1892.
Space is a fun theme to collect. I was going to bring up both the 1992 Columbian Commem and the 2004 Florida Quarter but I see both have been mentioned. If you expand to world coins, there are a ton out there (might be a good idea to start with just one country at first).
For the US my collection is basically almost complete. (I'll probably pick up the Columbus dollar eventually, I kind of forgot about it before and I recall talking myself into thinking it didn't really count lol, but my OCD side won't let it go, now.) I'm kind of surprised as proud as the US is about their space program, that it's barely reflected at all in their coins. The Soviet Union/Russia sure wasn't shy about commemorating their space achievements in coins. I might get some of those eventually. Already mentioned I think that Texas and Florida, which get their turn in Innovation dollars next year, both plan on putting space related stuff on their dollars. Not sure what other states might be able to claim something space related was invented/innovated in their states, but might be a few. If I include currency I suppose I'd have to get some MPCs that have space themes on them too, I do have one such already. Ironically the Marshall Islands has done more to commemorate the US space program than the United States has lol... I may get some of them, but something about their coins has always felt a little "artificial" for my tastes, like these were souvenirs made for collectors rather than "true" coins. (In the Marshall Islands they're not even truly legal tender, but in theory could be exchanged at some banks for money, which technically makes them more like tokens, strictly speaking.) I guess one can argue that's true of all NIFC commemoratives in general, but it just doesn't quite feel the same; hard to explain the difference in feeling really. But sometimes beggars can't be choosers if you're trying to find a niche subject in coins. And I have a lot of tokens, metals, and other "coin-like" things in my collection anyway so why not, I suppose.
When the 50th Anniversary of Space came out in 2019, I think I bought every item that was offered. I even got those items for children that have the $2 bill in them and another one with quarters) One of the coolest items was the Pride of Two Nations set. Several offerings, I bought 2 of. The 5 Ounce silver item was beautiful. I took everything I got related to 2019 anniversary to a scout meeting with Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts attending. They were enamored and wanted to know where I got everything. It made me proud to know I might have taught a future Armstrong. By the way, thanks for everyone's entries. When the Apollo mission was in progress, I was in training in Florida with the 82nd.
Below is a Fliteline medallion that was on the first manned flight of the Gemini program. The astronauts commissioned medals for all of their flights and in fact medals are still being created and carried to the ISS. The Fliteline Medallions are shrouded in mystery as nobody knows who the original manufacturer was nor is there an accounting of just how many were made. It is believed, that every Fliteline medallion, with the exception of the ones made for Apollo 1 flew in space. At the start of the Apollo program, Walter Cunningham is credited with having the first Robbins medal commissioned for Apollo 7. The Robbins company has manufactured medals for every US manned space flight since Apollo 7. These medals are subset of collecting within the space collecting community. At one time I had all ten of the Flightline medallions and twenty-two of the Robbins medals, six of which were flown. In the last few years I have been dispersing my space collection through auction and now, I only have three of the Robbins medals left. Gemini III Fliteline Medallion ex. Grissom family
You could also reasonably include the Ike bicentennial dollar with its inclusion of the moon on the reverse.
If you're including medals, you could get one that has actually been to the moon. https://historical.ha.com/itm/space...6292-50034.s?ic4=GalleryView-Thumbnail-071515 (Neil Armstrong collection)
The current bid on that little beauty is $16,000. Sterling silver Apollo 11 medals have sold for as much as $80,000 and a unique 14kt gold one that Armstrong carried to the lunar surface in the LEM sold for $2,055,000 in 2019.
If we are talking medals, the US Mint had a set of 3 in 1988. Photos from Apmex: https://www.apmex.com/product/14272/1988-america-in-space-3-medal-set-gold-silver-bronze
