1989 USA Fort McHenry 175th Anniversary of the Star-Spangled Banner

1989 USA Fort McHenry 175th Anniversary of the Star-Spangled Banner

The defence of Fort McHenry at the Battle of Baltimore in 1814 inspired Francis Scott Key to write a poem titled "Defence of Fort McHenry." The poem would later be set to the tune of a British song called "To Anacreon in Heaven," and the result was "The Star-Spangled Banner," the song that would become the American national anthem.

This 1989 token celebrates 175 years since Key wrote "Defence of Fort McHenry." The reverse shows Key watching the rockets flare over Fort McHenry from the deck of the HMS Surprise, while the obverse shows the titular flag flying over Fort McHenry.