An investment to be over the moon about

Space travel has become a hot topic lately.

First, it’s no secret that Commander Chris Hadfield returned to Earth in May after five months at the International Space Station, and people claim he’s made space travel cool for legions of now-aspiring little astronauts through his social media coverage of the mission.

On top of that, more than 200,000 people from more than 100 countries applied to score a one-way ticket to Mars through the Mars One Project. It will be partially funded though private investors, so you might want to consider telling space-lover clients about that particular out-of-this-world investment.

In the meantime, though, ask these clients if they’ve ever wondered what a space suit is worth, especially if it’s one in which the first men on the moon took a giant leap for mankind.

The answer? The two suits, worn by astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, are both in museums and have an estimated price tag of $25 million each.

However, there’s another weighty piece of Apollo memorabilia to consider: a NASA flight suit worn by Michael Collins after his recovery from the Apollo 11 mission, where he orbited the moon for 48 minutes aboard Columbia.

Read: What are the weirdest celeb insurance policies?

Collins’ role in Apollo 11 was critical, since he controlled the main craft, Columbia, while Armstrong and Aldrin landed on the Moon in the Eagle. The suit’s been put up for sale for £75,000 ($118,170) by Stanley Gibbons, a U.K.-based memorabilia dealer.

For those looking to add atypical investments to their portfolios, the timing couldn’t be better as the passing of Neil Armstrong has brought focus back to the lunar mission and its place in history.

“You may simply find the idea of a proud, prestige memento appealing; but what if you are considering investment potential or a legacy?” asks Keith Heddle, investment director at Stanley Gibbons.

Apart from investors’ passion for memorabilia and esoteric collectibles, the allure is rooted in their potential for returns that, for the most part, remain uncorrelated to financial markets.

These collectibles can also be an ingenious alternative to insurance coverage, as Armstrong and Aldrin discovered.

Investors can look further afield for astronomical returns. When it comes to capital preservation, growth and diversification, cognac works just as well as a “liquid asset.”

Read: Invest in pricey cognac? Mais Oui!

There are plenty more options. Take your pick:

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