50 Dollars First Space Shuttle Flight

The Marshall Islands began issuing commemorative coinage in 1986 under authority granted by the Compact of Free Association with the United States, which came into force that year. This piece marks the first flight of Columbia in April 1981, an eight-year lag between event and coin that reflects the RMI's broader commemorative program structure rather than any particular anniversary.

Struck by the Medallic Art Company on behalf of the RMI, these issues were produced for the collector market and saw essentially no circulation — the face value was nominal against silver spot even at issue price.