Navy Keel Laying Ceremony Gold Medal

Navy Keel Laying Ceremony Gold Medal

Here we have a gold medal unlike any that I have ever seen before. The medal was issued (I assume) at the Keel Laying Ceremony for the nuclear submarine USS Baton Rouge. The medal is 14 k gold, 31.6 mm in diameter and weighs 15.06 grams. It has a plain edge and a small loop. The design in both sides is incuse. Obverse has a naval trident through a gear wheel with the letters “N N” on the prongs. The reverse is inscribed “ USS BATON ROUGE SSN 689 KEEL LAID NOVEMBER 18, 1972 NEWPORT NEWS SHIPBUILDING AUTHENTICATED BY MRS. F. EDWARD HEBERT”. The sub was launched April 26, 1975. It collided with the Soviet submarine “Kostroma” Feb. 11, 1992 damaging both ships in international waters and was decommissioned in 1994. Mrs. Hebert was the wife of Louisiana Congressman Felix Edward Hebert who served from 1941-1977 and died in 1979. I have seen similar ship launching souvenirs in aluminum covered cardboard but never one in gold. Being in gold makes me think that this piece may have been given to Mrs. Hebert.