I just noted the information from Jim Wells.

The medal I was researching is one of two different medals struck in 1972. One was the 1 5/16" U. S. Mint struck medal, most of which are silver. The design was also struck in 3" bronze and silver. That is not the medal we illustrated.

The medal Jim is referring to is one which, as noted, was struck containing copper from the original spikes from the ship. It was in the late 1950's that this medal was first sold to raise money for restoration of the 1797 U. S. F. Constellation. A small number (amounts lost to history) were struck with serial number in copper as well as serial numbered silver or pewter finish and gold finish.

Our medals pictured in The E-Sylum are neither of the two above.

In more recent years, it was determined that the Constellation is not the 1797 ship build at Stoddard's Shipyard at Harris Creek, Canton, Baltimore, Maryland. The ship in Baltimore harbor was built in the 1850's. So, our ship in Baltimore is the U. S. S. Constellation, not U. S. F. Constellation.

As far as I know the USS Constellation medals made from copper from the ship entitled the possessor to free admission to the ship, which is now docked in Baltimore's Inner Harbor. I have heard that they will still let you enter for free if you show them one of the medals, but I have not tried it myself so I cannot say whether this is true.