Any idea what the story is with this tiny USS Olympia token? There are larger medals with a similar design supposedly made from the propeller of the ship (according to their legends), but this uniface token doesn't make that claim. It is about the size of a dime, and appears to be bronze or copper. The obverse has deep brown color around the details, but is rose gold in the fields. Also, any idea as to value?
here's 1 simular to yours on Ebay... link: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Deweys-Flag...273?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item462dbc61e9 this 1... This is a nice Dewey's Flagship Olympia token. It commemorates US Commodore Dewey's flagship at the Battle of Manila Bay during the US-Spanish war in 1898
here is another 1 that looks simular to yours...ebay link: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Spanish-Ame...545?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27f1f694c9
I have several of that type - it's larger & has the quote "You may fire when ready, Gridley" on the obverse, along with the description that it is made from the USS Olympia's propeller on the reverse. The one I'm trying to research is uniface, but otherwise has clean lines like the relic medal. There were several crude medals celebrating Admiral Dewey (that otherwise resemble campaign medals of the era). This one only has the ship - I wonder if it was an issue for the ship's crew?
Did some pretty thorough searching. No luck. It's also not in the Redbook of US Tokens (unless I'm missing it).
I have a large medallion that I bought in the gift shop on board the USS Olympia in 1966. It was in fact made from the propeller. The ship itself is still in Philadelphia.
