Up for sale is 1 extremely rare individually numbered / serialized New Orleans Saints NFL football “Salute to service”🎗collectible special limited edition 1969 throwback banned black helmet challenge coin (see story of the Saints black helmet below).
The coin honors our United States 🇺🇸 military veterans and die hard Saints fans ⚜️!!! This coin also recognizes and has the emblems of all 5 branches of the U.S. armed forces on it: 🇺🇸
United States Army
United States Air Force
United States Marine Corps
United States Navy
United States Coast Guard
This coin also commemorates the New Orleans Saints⚜️Super Bowl XLIV 44 🏟 Championship season that was led by Super Bowl MVP Quarterback Drew Brees and Head coach Sean Payton.
This is a beautiful and well put together coin that is detailed and very heavy. It would definitely make an awesome display piece. The individual serial number on coin will vary and may or may not be the number pictured.
Please view the photos attached that show several different views of the coin. Winner will receive 1 coin. The coin is new, but may show some minor factory cosmetic imperfections, as most challenge coins usually do. Coin stand not included.
Final note: This coin was acquired at a trade show. We do not know the origin of this coin, but rumor was that a very few were distributed to VIP’s and veterans during an NFL Salute to service / military appreciation🎗event in New Orleans.
Thank you for viewing our listing and have a great day!!!
BLACK HELMET STORY:
In 1969 Saints owner John Mecom Jr. Wanted a new look for his team's third NFL season. Since their inception, the Saints had worn beautiful gold numerals on white or black jerseys, gold pants and gold helmets with a black fleur de lis symbol on each side. But they were about to make the most controversial and short-lived uniform change in their history. For the 1969 pre-season, Mecom sent his troops out wearing black helmets with a gold fleur de lis on each side. It was a mistake. To begin with, Mecom had failed to register the black helmets with NFL office. The league's entire line of merchandise represented the Saints with gold helmets, so the league wouldn't license the black helmets. Faced with pressure from the league office, and poor fan response, Mecom quickly decided to scrub the idea. He found himself with a locker room full of black Saints helmets. At the time, the NFL was still operating a type of farm system as feeders for NFL clubs. The Saints' farm team was the Richmond Roadrunners, coached by J.D. Roberts, who in 1970's would replace Tom Fears, becoming the Saints' second head coach. Mecom shipped the entire batch of black helmets to Richmond, and the Saints were back in their original gold helmets.