Rare 0.925 Silver Medal Mercury Project Federal Mint Vienna Unc. in Original Box

Description: A beautiful and rather rare small sterling silver medal in mint state condition in its original box. The medal which commemorates project Mercury was issued by the Vienna mint in Austria. The obverse of the medal shows the heads of Alan Shepard, Virgil I. "Gus" Grissom, John Glenn, and M. Scott Carpenter, who were the first four astronauts to fly the program with their dates of flights. The reverse shows the heads of N. Kopernikus (Copernicus) 1473-1543, J. Kepler 1571-1630, I. Newton 1643-1727, and A. Einstein 1879-1955 in the same arrangement as the astronauts on the obverse. The small medal is in mint state condition and comes in its original box of issue. The medal is part of the National Air and Space Museum at the Smithsonian and is pictured online with the following description "This Project Mercury commemorative medal was struck by the Vienna Mint. Project Mercury was NASA's first human spaceflight program. Alan Shepard, Virgil I. "Gus" Grissom, John Glenn, and M. Scott Carpenter were the first four astronauts to fly in the program. Alan Shepard was the first American in space in a suborbital flight in May 1961, and Gus Grissom was the second in another suborbital flight in July 1961. John Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth in February 1962, and Scott Carpenter was the second in May 1962. Space medal collector Thomas Becker donated this medal to the National Collection in 1972." A great looking piece worthy of a spot in your collection. Please carefully review the photos as they are part and parcel of our description. Date: Unknown, but most likely sometime in the 1960's. Origin: Vienna Austria. Artist: Unknown. Weight and Size: The medal weighs ~12 grams and is ~30 millimeters in diameter. Maker: Struck by the Federal Mint in Vienna Austria. Marks: Marked "MAC (A) 925. Reference: National Air and Space Museum at the Smithsonian Inventory Number A19731520000. Condition: The medal is in what I would characterize as mint state condition with nice toning on both sides. The medal comes in its original box of issue. The medal shows no wear and its field are clear with some minor scratches and bag marks. The medal is much better looking than the photos suggest. A very nice and rather rare medal, which would make a great addition to your collection of space related memorabilia. Please view photos for additional condition information and to appreciate the beauty of the piece.