*US Navy, Modern, USS San Jacinto (CG-56) Challenge Coin, Ticonderoga-Class Guided Missile Cruiser*
A United States Navy challenge coin commemorating the guided-missile cruiser USS San Jacinto (CG-56). The coin is struck in a two-tone gilt and silvered metal finish with blue enamel details.
The obverse depicts the cruiser underway at sea with the inscription “USS SAN JACINTO CG-56” above. The vessel’s hull number 56 appears on the bow, and beneath the ship a banner carries the motto “VICTORY IS CERTAIN.” Above the ship is a stylised eagle device representing the ship’s heraldic symbolism and links to the Battle of San Jacinto. The reverse shows the official ship’s crest, featuring an eagle surmounting a shield and scroll bearing the motto “VICTORY IS CERTAIN.” Around the border appears the inscription “USS SAN JACINTO” with stars and a decorative chain border, together with the hull designation CG-56.
Coins of this type were produced for distribution among crew members, visiting dignitaries, and collectors, continuing the long-standing U.S. military tradition of challenge coins used to commemorate service and unit identity.
Approx. Measurements – Diameter: approx. 4.5 cm.
History Note:
USS San Jacinto (CG-56) was a Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser of the United States Navy, commissioned on 23 January 1988. Named for the Battle of San Jacinto (1836) — the decisive engagement in the Texas Revolution where General Sam Houston defeated Mexican forces — the ship’s motto “Victory is Certain” derives from Houston’s address to his troops before the battle. The cruiser served for more than three decades and was equipped with the Aegis combat system, making it one of the U.S. Navy’s principal air-defence and strike platforms. During Operation Desert Storm (1991), the ship participated in early coalition operations and was among the vessels involved in launching Tomahawk cruise missiles, marking one of the first combat uses of the weapon system. USS San Jacinto also participated in numerous deployments with carrier strike groups and NATO operations during the late Cold War and post-Cold War periods. In 2020, while deployed with the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group, the ship set a record for 161 consecutive days at sea without a port visit, reflecting the operational demands of the COVID-19 pandemic. After 35 years of service, the cruiser was decommissioned on 15 September 2023, marking the end of the career of the third U.S. Navy vessel to bear the name San Jacinto.
Challenge coins such as this example were commonly produced during a ship’s active service and often exchanged between crew members, visiting units, and allied forces as a symbol of camaraderie and naval tradition.
*Condition*
Very good overall condition. The coin retains strong gilt and silvered finishes with intact blue enamel panels. Light surface wear and minor handling marks only. Please see photographs as part of the condition report.
JAQ#3076E_6233237247
