NARA medallion thingy?

[oddcoins]

I dug this last week in the lawn at a high school in Eugene Oregon.

Copper/bronze ~ about 31 millimeters in diameter and almost 3 millimeters thick!

Anyone have any idea what it is? NARA ~ DON GILMAN ~ 1980 * 7 * 29 (July 29, 1980?)

 

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[HutSiteDigger]

Since it is somewhat close to Alaska hear is info on a Don Gilman Former mayor dies | Peninsula Clarion

Gilman served as mayor from 1975 to 1980 and again from 1987 to 1996. Between, he served in the Alaska Senate from 1980 to 1984.

 

[HutSiteDigger]

Also NARA normally stands for National Archives and Records Administration

 

[DoranHashemi]

It's most likely Japanese influence cause that name is throwing me off. That is the date, 1980. Probably a souvenir medallion/token

 

[GpSnoopy]

There is a city in Japan called NARA, and one of its tourist attractions is Nara Park with a large amount of Sika Deer in and around it. Perhaps a personalized souvenir token as Doran mentioned??

Nara Travel: Nara Park

 

[surf]

Hello oddcoins,

Don't know anything about your medallion, save that the face of Buddha at Tōdai-ji Temple is a well known symbol of Nara.

 

[vpnavy]

I searched the net and found that Nara Park (public park located in the city of Nara, Japan) was established in 1880. The information also confirms the "deer" relationship (on face of coin), etc. Now, I wonder if it was established July 29, 1880 so the medallion would have been a 100 year celebration on July 29, 1980?

 

[nhbenz]

It looks like a custom souvenir good luck charm token to me. My guess is that the date and name are added on demand, like the aluminum one's we have here, adding your name and the date of your visit between the indents which are on it when it is "blank".

Added: here is a picture of their version of a good luck souvenir token machine (2/5 of the way down the page) http://muza-chan.net/japan/index.php/blog/must-have-souvenirs-travel-tips.

 

[mical66]

i tend to agree with Doran, it looks like the type of souvenir you get at a theme park that stamps your name on them , i had some from my early years from Disney , Bush gardens and other tourist attractions .
with that being said i wonder if it was the same Don Gilman , would be very cool huh ?

 

[oddcoins]

WOW ~ thanks for the input everyone! VERY COOL!!