Does any one know how much this coin is worth?

Question

I have a little ccoin that says "this coin was cast by part of the first ship in the U.S navy the U.S constilation"

do you know how much it is worth?

Answer 1

It is not a coin but a souvenir medal from that ship which is still afloat in Boston Harbor. The last time I was there was some years ago but they still had the medal on sale. I do not remember for how much. I have seen it at on line auction sites in the $10 range more or less.

Answer 2

i used to collect coins and still have my collection but never seen something like that

Answer 3

What you have is a solid copper token cast from copper salvaged from the USS Constellation during the 1950s. I purchased one of these as a kid when I visited the ship in Baltimore. The token allowed you free admission to the ship on later visits.

Constellation was the first ship of the US Navy, built in 1797. The hulk I visited in Baltimore so many years ago had been found in the Philadelphia Navy Yard, basically going to seed. As Constellation had been built in Baltimore, there was considerable local support for bringing the ship home for restoration and display.

The Navy obliged by providing a floating drydock to move the ship down from Philadelphia. Restoration proceeded at a deliberate pace as funds became available. The sale of tokens like the ones you and I have helped in a small way to finance that effort.

Many years later further research disclosed that the ship restored in Baltimore was not the 1797 Constellation, but rather, its replacement, built in the 1850s. Still an historic vessel, having served during the Civil War. It has been suggested that a bit of material from the older ship was in fact used in the construction of the ship now in Baltimore's harbor, but not to the extent that the ship can claim to be the frigate of 1797.

Incidentally, the famous US frigate USS Constitution (not Constellation) is located in Boston. Known as Old Ironsides it is a somewhat larger ship than Constellation, rated at 44 guns versus Contellation's 38 guns.

If you want to sell your token just check eBay from time to time. But given its history, I'd just as soon keep it.