Coin from under the Mast of the USS Constellation, a 1797 coin?
SirAnthonyAC
Posts: 646
I thought this was pretty cool... during the renovation and reconstruction of the USS Constellation (the last Civil War ship still on the water) they found coins under the mast, they were placed there for good luck, this is one of them.
Now this is what I call a find or it 'could' have been planted there to futher the controversy over whether or not the 1854 sloop was a new ship, or a rebuilt version of the 1797 frigate. Much of the controversy was created when the city of Baltimore promoted the ship and even rebuilt sections of the ship to resemble the 1797 frigate.
Can anyone identify the coin? Or is it modern BS and just planted there?
Oh and by the way, they have the whole ship open, including the very, very bottom where the huge timbers were curved... so, there I went... into the very bowels of the ship! Very low ceiling down there too!
Now this is what I call a find or it 'could' have been planted there to futher the controversy over whether or not the 1854 sloop was a new ship, or a rebuilt version of the 1797 frigate. Much of the controversy was created when the city of Baltimore promoted the ship and even rebuilt sections of the ship to resemble the 1797 frigate.
Can anyone identify the coin? Or is it modern BS and just planted there?
Oh and by the way, they have the whole ship open, including the very, very bottom where the huge timbers were curved... so, there I went... into the very bowels of the ship! Very low ceiling down there too!
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<< <i>Dude... you went out in public wearing that shirt? And those socks? >>
<< <i>I toured the ship back in the 1990's before its restoration. Being 6"2" it was not pleasant being below. Those guys must have really been short! >>
Man, you ain't kidding! I'm 6-2 myself and I was bent over on the upper two decks but when I went all the way down to the bottom deck, I was almost kneeling down there!
BTW: can anyone place that coin or is it a modern plant?
The ship is a Civil War era ship that causes confusion, because there have been several USS Constellations in the US Navy, something like 9 of them or something.
<< <i>At least he dresses like most coin collectors >>
Alright, before we all jump on Anthony's "cabana wear", I did dress up while in Baltimore as well!
Okay... no more photos of me until I get my fat
Anyways... back to the coin, I lightened the photo and I think I see "act of Congress" also there is a second date under the 1797 which really looks like 19 something so, I think that coin may not have originally been there when the ship was built.... I think Baltimore is trying to pull a a fast one!
I see 1797 and under that 19 something 2
<< <i>I'd have to go with modern plant as look at the dates partially visible
I see 1797 and under that 19 something 2 >>
looks lie 1972 - so it would be something commemorating the 175th anniversary of something, probably old ironsides herself.
probably planted during a refurbishment of the hull that took place about that time in preparation for the bicentennial.
60 years into this hobby and I'm still working on my Lincoln set!
overhauls. Visitors to the ship today are seeing the latest of these.
It is near impossible to determine what is original.
The photo below is how it appeared in 1858. Later it was refitted
as a training ship for seaman during the Civil War.
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They issued Constellation medals----made from the old iron nails of the ship---cost you a buck to buy one---and I bought two as I remember it. They made repairs two times that I know of over the years. When they towed her to Fort McHenry the one time, they were afraid that she might sink---the timbers were that rotten---or so they said.
Somehow, among many years of debate, they finally decided that the vessel was from 1854 and not the original 1797 ship. After these latest repairs, some said that soooo much of the old ship had been replaced that there wasn't anything of the old original ship remaining. Still, it is a part of our American history. Bob [supertooth]
Went and located my two medals this morning. Within the 2by2, I had one of the order blanks of which your letter speaks. After opening it, I found it interesting that right at the bottom it read " This pamphlet was produced at no cost to the "Constellation" Committee by Bastian Bros. Co., Rochester, New York, manufacturers of the medal. Artist: Edward L. Christle, Tower Building, Baltimore, Md."
As I remember, this restoration would have occured sometime in the 1960's---or there abouts.
The second restoration---when the ship's timbers were almost completely redone----would have been much later---say the 1990's---that is when they found out, for sure I think, that the ship only dated to the 1854 era. Bob [supertooth]
Here is the medal/coin.
Diamond Jubilee Medal