We were honored to have the collection featured in the award winning film The Two Dollar Bill Documentary. Recently, the film's director, John Bennardo, posted our segment of the film to his You Tube channel. If you haven't seen it, do check it out. (And I highly encourage you to see the whole film: it is fun and educational. You can click on the film title above and it will take you to the Amazon streaming options.)
Joe Engle and the Space Flown $1 bill -- Reunited
On June 9, 2017, Joe Engle appeared at SpaceFest in Tucson, Arizona. It created a unique opportunity to orchestrate a reunion with him and the $1 bill that flew with him on his USAF astronaut-wing flight into space on June 29, 1965. We are pleased to report he instantly recognized the bill, and recalled the story. He appears to be genuinely excited to see the bill again almost 52 years to the day they flew together. Click here to read the full story.
Joe Engle reunited with the $1 bill that flew with him into space on June 29, 1965.
Gene Cernan's Moon Flown $2 Bill
Folks have asked for a slightly shorter version of the Gene Cernan interview just focused on the $2 bill, without going into the technicalities of the astronaut's PPK lists. Here is that shortened video that tells the story of Gene's three time flown $2 bill, and why he carried it. Enjoy!
In 2010, astronaut Gene Cernan -- the last man to walk on the moon -- discusses in detail the $2 bill that he took with on all three of his spaceflights in honor of the memory of his father, who always carried it for good luck. This bill flew on Gemini 9, to lunar orbit on Apollo 10, and on to the surface of the moon during Apollo 17.
Gene Cernan Full Interview: His Flown $2 Bill (7 minutes, 29 seconds)
In 2010, I was lucky enough to spend some time with Capt. Eugene "Gene" Cernan filming a personal interview about his space flown mementos, especially his three-time flown $2 bill, which I had recently acquired. This video is a tremendous insight into why he flew this particular bill, what it mean to him and his father, and the circumstances around the mementos he flew as the last man to walk on the moon.
At the 80th birthday celebration for Gen. Tom Stafford in Weatherford Oklahoma, Gene Cernan was kind enough to grant me time between events to film an interview with him discussing items he flew with on his missions, especially the $2 bill from his father that he flew on all three of his missions, which I had acquired from him. It's a very personal, and insightful discussion on the meaning behind some of the personal mementos he took with to the moon and back. The interview took place at The Fairfield Inn and Suites on September 18, 2010. Present were Gene Cernan, Richard Jurek, and Larry McGlynn.