In solid bronze measuring approx. 60.3 mm wide and 6.6 mm thick between the highest points on either side. Fascinating artwork featuring an ellipse-shaped globe with a space rocket which was launched from Russia's once-secret Plesetsk Cosmodrome and landed in Seattle, USA. The obverse has an inscription "Europe-Ameica Space Flight 1992" in both Russian and English. The reverse is inscribed "Plesetsk Seattle 1992", also in Russian and English. At the bottom of the reverse, there is a mark of the Leningrad Mint, the year of manufacture of the medal 1992, and the name of the medallist, A. Baklanov (А. Бакланов) who created the artwork of the medal.

The medal comes wrapped in paper, in its original packaging cardboard box.

In excellent, unblemished condition. A hint of patina in recessed areas accents the high-3D relief of the artwork.

This historic space flight was a goodwill mission in hopes to become the first private commercial space flight. The main goal of it was to encourage trade between Russia and the United States as well as to promote the use of technology previously strictly reserved for the military. When Bob Walsh, entrepreneur and humanitarian, visited Moscow in 1991, he heard of the plan of the potential space flight and agreed to sponsor the event in the United States. On February 16, 1992, a Soyuz rocket fired a 5,152-pound spherical Resurs-500 capsule similar to the one flown by Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin. Inside the capsule were gifts which included artwork, souvenirs and business products. After orbiting Earth for seven days, the capsule parachuted down to the Pacific Ocean. The capsule now is inside the Museum of Flight at Boeing Field.

Please note: the penny in the last photo is for size reference.

Note: we have several of these medals. Our photos show an example but all the medals are in exactly the same near-mint condition. Only the packaging boxes are slightly different depending on the wear to the cardboard.