CIT: The Last Issue in the Real Heroes Series – Astronaut

When the first men set foot on the moon with the Apollo 11 spacecraft, they were using technology that worked in theory but had never been put into practice before. That is why the speech that US President Richard Nixon was to give in the event of failure had already been drafted before the spacecraft was even launched. Thus, Neil Armstrong’s small step required a great deal of courage.

The latest issue in the Real Hero series commemorates these people. The coin is minted using the special smartminting® (Ultra High Relief) technique with color application at B. H. Mayer’s Kunstprägeanstalt in Munich.

Cook Islands / 20 Dollars / Silver .9999 / 3 oz / 50 mm / Black Proof / Special technology: smartminting® (Ultra High Relief) with color application. Minted by B. H. Mayer’s Kunstprägeanstalt, Munich. / Mintage: 850 pieces.

Description of the Coin

One side depicts the head-and-shoulder portrait of an astronaut from the front. On the spacesuit a logo and an inscription that reads DRE / DISCOVER RESEARCH EXPLORE. The moon’s surface is reflected in the black visor of the helmet; on the moon’s horizon, the Earth rises. In the background a honeycomb pattern, in it the logo of the series with the legend REAL HERO; on the rim THE SKY IS NOT THE LIMIT.

The upper half of the other side depicts space and the ISS, two floating astronauts and planet Earth. In the lower, granulated half a circle, in it the portrait of Charles III by Dan Thorne (initials: DT); around it 20 DOLLARS CHARLES III 2024 COOK ISLANDS; above ONLY THE BRAVE ARE FREE.

Background

The American victory in the race to the moon became the first global media spectacle. Launch and landing were broadcast live around the world. The first lunar landing from 16 July to 24 July 1969 sparked a fascination with space that also had a lasting impact on everyday life on Earth. Popular culture in particular embraced a new genre with enthusiasm. Pictures of the moon were republished millions of times. Some of them became iconic images. Among them was the visor of the Apollo 11 spacesuit that reflected what the astronaut saw himself.

Astronaut Buzz Aldrin, the second man on the moon. Photo: Neil A. Armstrong via Wikimedia Commons / Public domain.

CIT’s last issue in the Real Hero series echoes this collective memory. The image of this very visor is at the center of the impressive depiction. Minted in ultra-high relief, it depicts the seemingly unbelievable: the Earth rising above the lunar horizon! At least as incredible is the precision of the coloring, applied by B. H. Mayer’s Kunstprägeanstalt in Munich to transform the ideas of CIT’s designers into reality. After all, it requires years of experience to master the extremely demanding task of coloring a strongly curved surface in such an exquisite and meticulous way. With this final issue of the Real Hero series, CIT has created a coin that commemorates a major media event, but also demonstrates what today’s minting technology is capable of.

See also the previous releases of the Real Heroes series: Special Forces, Firefighters and Coast Guard.

If you want to experience all three dimensions of this coin, you have to watch the corresponding film: