Lunar Launch Vehicle(single and double sided)
Year: 1969
Mint/Issuer: Unknown
Mintage: 50/50
Flown metal: Metal from the failed launches.
Additional Information:
** Unverified that it contains historical metal **
Note: Per another source these may not contain metal from the launches.
Found there are 2 versions of these. First is a double sided version and a second with the same obverse but a blank reverse set in a plastic holder. The 1969 N1 table medal was commissioned by the Soviet government for the contractors, engineers and participants involved in the N1 lunar launch vehicle. The N1 was built to launch Soviet cosmonauts to the moon as part of the N1/L3 manned lunar program. The rocket was nearly 345 feet tall and capable of 9.6 million pounds of thrust at takeoff generated by 30 engines. Four launch attempts of the N1 were made. All were failures. According to Alex Panchenko and Michael Rose, experts in Soviet/Russian space collectibles, the N1 table medal was not recognized as an official medal and none of the samples created were ever circulated. Mr. Panchenko was informed by Vladimir Katayev, a former Soviet rocketry general, that only 50 pieces of the medal were custom ordered and presented to the recipients. General Katayev also revealed to Mr. Panchenko that the N1 table medal was constructed of actual metal from the N1 launch vehicle. Some more conflicting information on what these medals contain: These contain remains of the exploded N-1 rockets, which were not successful in gettingto orbit. Some exploded right at launch pad. While others after lift off.
Medal Obverse:
Depicts the profiles of three men looking at a N1 rocket on its launch pad.Along with the Soviet
Union’s hammer and sickle symbol and a stock of wheat.
Medal Obverse:
Reads: “In Honor of Completion of the Construction of the Object N1 1969”.
