United Kingdom. 1969 Air League of the United Kingdom Founders Medal. Gilt Silver. Awarded to Astronaut Edwin Aldrin. Mint State. 57 mm, .925 fine. 85.1 grams. 78.7 gams ASW. <strong>Obv</strong>: AIR LEAGUE FOUNDERS MEDAL around periphery, Hermes holding caduceus at center. <strong>Rev</strong>: AWARDED IN / 1969 / TO THE UNITED STATES / ASTRONAUT / EDWIN ALDRIN / FOR HIS PART / IN THE FIRST LANDING / ON THE MOON neatly engraved. <strong>Edge</strong>: ENDOWED BY STEPHEN MARPLES CO-FOUNDER AND 1ST SECRETARY. Very slight loss of gilt is noted at the extreme peripheries and is easiest to see at 9:30 on the reverse. It is essentially as-made otherwise. Housed in a blue leather clamshell case with simple decoration in gilt and functional spring clasp. The interior is blue plush and white silk with JOHN PINCHES / LONDON printed on the silk. The Air League is the United Kingdoms leading aviation and aerospace charity with a vision focused on changing lives through aviation. Established in 1960, the Air League Founders medal is awarded "For the most meritorious achievement in the whole field of British aviation or reaching its culmination during the calendar year under review." The award was the gift of the late Mr. Stephen Marples, co-founder of the Air League with Colonel H S Massy in 1909. Though the website for the club states these medals are struck in hallmarked silver-gilt by Spink and Son, the present medal is missing such hallmarks, the only clue to manufacturer being the name listed inside the case, John Pinches. From the Wendy and Harris Lefkon Collection.
