Besides the Robbins Medallions, only two Apollo missions that had other commemorative medals struck to fly aboard the spacecraft were Apollo 13 and Apollo 14. These Franklin Mint medals have been a center of controversy and mystery since their striking. Up until now, the story on the Apollo 13 versions is that they were returned to the Franklin Mint and destroyed. Continuing research shows that it can definitively be said that there were just 200 individually serial numbered specimens struck, just like Apollo 14, for the commander of the mission. This is one of the only items that has been discovered to contain the names of the original crew (Mattingly was replaced at the last minute by Swigert). The 404 Apollo 13 Robbins Medals were all restruck with the corrected crew names. This medal, from the personal collection of Apollo 13 Commander James Lovell, is extremely desirable.

Included with this lot is a letter of authenticity signed "James Lovell" on his business letterhead, stating: "I hereby certify that this Apollo 13 sterling silver Franklin Mint medal #0016, which also lists the original scheduled crew on its reverse, is one of 200 original specimens that were made for me to take aboard the mission April 11-17, 1970. This medal is from my personal collection and has been in my possession since the mission until being offered now."