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Christening of U. S. S. Enterprise - 1960 - Newport News, VA
NOTE: THIS ISSUE SHOULD NOT BE CONFUSED WITH THE 2 ½ IN. SILVER AND BRONZE MEDALS WIDELY OFFERED BEGINNING 1960.
Purpose: To commemorate christening of U. S. S. Enterprise, "World’s largest ship and first nuclear powered aircraft carrier."
Site, Date, Attendance: Shipyard of Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newport News, Virginia, Sept. 24, 1960; attendance about 15,000, "largest in recent times."
Comment: Huge craft perpetuates name of 7 Naval predecessors dating from Revolutionary War, ranging from small sloop captured from British in 1775 to famous "Big E" of World War II, flagship of Admiral Halsey. Latter built in 1938, never inoperative throughout 4 years battle action in Pacific and was only ship in naval history to receive both Presidential and unit citations. De-commissioned 1947 and struck from Navy List 1956, her tripod mast now stands as memorial on grounds of U. S. Naval Academy, Annapolis.
Keel of this Enterprise was laid Feb. 4, 1958; U. S. Bureau of Ships, Westinghouse, Admiral Rickover and his staff and "over 800 sub-contractors" joined Newport News Shipbuilding in construction. Christened by Mrs. William B. Franke, wife of Secretary of Navy, another year was required for outfitting before commissioning in Fall 1961. Vessel is over 1100 ft. long, with 4½ acre flight deck and crew of 4600 including air group. Displacing 85,000 tons, she is capable of cruising "20 times around the world without re-fueling...at sustained high speed."
Medal: Issued by Newport News Shipbuilding Co. and presented to those attending christening ceremony together with christening program, picture postcards of Enterprise and brochure describing ship and her reactors. Medal designed by Company art staff, executed in bas-relief by New York sculptor Ralph Menconi; 15,000 Bronze pieces struck by Medallic Art Co. Apparently only 11,000 medals distributed at christening and surplus of 4,000 bought by Norfolk, Virginia, souvenir dealer. It was reported reliably that dies have been destroyed.
Obverse: An Aircraft Carrier (in high relief); above U. S. S. Enterprise below ship Worlds Largest / Ship; below, around First Nuclear Powered Aircraft Carrier
Reverse: At top, around Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company; Company Seal below; below seal, across Christened by / Mrs. William B. Franke / September 24. 1960 / Newport News / Virginia
HK-578 - Bronze. Size 24.
 
Image provided by Jonathan Brecher
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