This is a great looking US NAVY - USS Shangri-La (CV-38) commemorative challenge coin. Coin has reeded edges and is about 1 9/16" in diameter. Front side of coin is printed and colorized (black & white) while the rear side is raised lettering and gold plated. Coin is contained in an acrylic air tight holder and displayed in an attractive blue velvet presentation box which will make this a very impressive gift or presentation.

USS Shangri-La (CV/CVA/CVS-38) was one of 24 Essex-class aircraft carriers completed during or shortly after World War II for the United States Navy.

Commissioned in 1944, Shangri-La participated in several campaigns in the Pacific Theater of Operations in World War II, earning two battle stars. Like many of her sister ships, she was decommissioned shortly after the end of the war, but was modernized and recommissioned in the early 1950s, and redesignated as an attack carrier (CVA). She operated in both the Pacific and Atlantic/Mediterranean for several years, and late in her career was redesignated as an anti-submarine carrier (CVS). She earned three battle stars for service in the Vietnam War.

Shangri-La was decommissioned in 1971 and sold for scrap in 1988.