Panoramic photo by Apollo 15 crew. (photo right) Astronaut James B. Irwin, lunar module pilot, gives a military salute. photo credit: NASA
APOLLO 15: Flown $1 Bill
Launch Date: July 26, 1971 | Splashdown Date: August 7, 1971
About the Provenance
This bill was acquired directly from the personal collection of Robert B. Horne, who was the Boeing Crew Equipment Engineer assigned to the Flight Crew Support Team and Kennedy Space Center. Bob was responsible for gathering, tagging, inventorying, and packing the crew members PPKs. The bill remained in Bob’s possession from 1971 when it was returned to him by Lt. Col. Alfred M. Worden, Apollo 15 LMP, until it was acquired by the JSM in March of 2022.
About the Bill
As a favor to critical team members such as Bob, the crew of Apollo 15 took along mementoes for them on the flight. This is one of 13 one dollar bills that the crew took for Bob to the moon on their historic flight. Indeed, Bob flew many bills on various missions — including the Apollo 16 $2 bill also found as part of the Jefferson Space Museum Collection. After receiving permission from the crew, Bob acquired crisp, new dollar bills that the crew signed. Afterward, Bob packed the bills in PPK S/N 117 (along with other items for other ground support crew members that were approved by the Apollo 15 crew), and it was stowed aboard the Apollo Command Module for the entire length of the mission. This dollar bill remains one of the few historic numismatic mementos of the Apollo lunar program that actually accompanied the astronauts on their amazing adventure.
An image of the official flight certification letter of this lunar orbit flown $1 bill from Bob Horne.
A copy of the original letter that Bob Horne received from Apollo 15 LMP Lt. Col. Alfred M. Worden upon the return of his 13 moon flown $1 bills.
The Apollo 15 command module Endeavor in lunar orbit with its SIM bay door open. Aboard is Al Worden and this very special $1 bill. This photo was taken from the Lunar Module, which had Dave Scott and Jim Irwin aboard.