David Glasgow Farragut U.S. Navy’s the first rear admiral, vice admiral and admiral who is known for his battle cry “Damn the Torpedoes, Full Speed Ahead” at the Battle of Mobile Bay. USS Farragut (DDG-99) is the fifth Navy ship named after the admiral. The USS Farragut (DDG-99) challenge coin is exclusively minted for U.S. Challenge Coins as a commemorative coin designed for the First Class Petty Officers Association in support of military families who are in need.
This challenge coin runs a history that goes back during the time of the Civil War showing the admiral’s character as an aggressive and sometimes an uncooperative commander. Admiral Farragut started his life in the navy at the age of nine as a midshipman that lasted for sixty years and remained on active duty for life an honor given only to six naval officers in the entire history of the U.S. Navy.
The USS Farragut (DDG-99) challenge coin is a 1.75″ round coin with a 3D antique nickel finish with painted details on both sides. It has no edging and epoxy and is one of the limited challenge coins being offered by U.S. Challenge Coins.
This challenge coins shows off a design that speaks of nothing but history starting from the skull’s indicating the crew’s capacity in ending their mission successfully. The two spears signifying violent death if enemies continue to fight and the dagger represents the crew’s willingness to kill when needed. The anchor signifies the ship’s service as part of the U.S. Navy and it also shows off the U.S. Navy rank insignia for First Class Petty Officers (E – 5).
The front side of the coin speaks merely of the USS Farragut’s mission as the flagship of the Combined Task Force 151 who are designated to stop piracy and terrorism at sea thus the “The Sea is Ours” written on the base of the coin shows the crew’s strength and dedication to work just like it did when it responded to the call of MV Evita when pirate skiffs fired on the vessel. The sailors were able to take the pirates in custody and destroyed the mother pirate skiff.
On the reverse side of the coin is an image of Admiral David Farragut, an image of the warship and the flagship of the USS Hartford where he shouted his famous cry “Damn the Torpedoes, Full Speed Ahead”.
The USS Farragut DDG-99 challenge coin is an epitome of Admiral David Farragut’s character with his hard work and determination he rose through the ranks of the Union Navy during the Civil War. He may have not been one of the most cooperative admirals during his service as seen on the Siege of Port Hudson but being an aggressive commander he had won the greatest victory of his career at the Battle of Mobile Bay that ended the Confederates last major port making him a hero.
Any U.S. Navy collector or a member of the USS Farragut DDG-99 fleet will be proud of this coin in their possession not only because of the history it entails but for the cause it is created to serve.
