Token US 'Remember the Maine' 1898

In all probability this brass token dates back to the Spanish American War, a 10 week war during 1898. It was used by proponents of the war as part of a political campaign against Spain. Cuba was trying to gain independence from Spain and the American battleship Maine steamed into Havana harbor to protect American interest there. Mysteriously, perhaps because of a Spanish bomb or perhaps because of an onboard accident, the Maine exploded, killing more than 250 American sailors. This event gave war proponents all the fuel they needed to get America involved militarily. The cause of the explosion is still unknown today.

These tokens are surprisingly valuable. There are not many left in good condition, so the value rises sharply as condition improves. Here are some typical catalog values.

worn: $5 US dollars approximate catalog value
average circulated: $20
well preserved: $50
fully uncirculated: $85

These are catalog values and must be adjusted to obtain approximate buy and sell values. See our Important Terminology page.
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