The pictures below are of a medallion from a plaque I received as part of the commissioning crew for the US Navy ship DD-985, the USS Cushing (sorry about the poor condition). I don't seem to have the entire plaque anymore; it contained a metal painted cast of the ship's badge, and two medallions: the one shown and the other, I think, was a tribute to the shipbuilding company, Ingalls.
The text on the medallion reads (and I'll have to identify the sides as 1 and 2)
side 1: outline of ship
"U.S.Navy Multi-mission Destroyer"
Around the edge:
"Designed and built by Ingalls Shipbuilding Division of Litton Industries"
Side 2: text about christening
"Commemorating the christening of Cushing, DD-985
Mrs. Alfred J. Whittle, Jr.
Sponsor
July 29, 1978
Pascagoula, Mississippi?
Around the edge:
"5th Navy vessel named in honor of much decorated Civil War hero Cdr William B. Cushing, USN, 1842-1874"
So this seems to be more about the christening of the ship, not the actual commissioning (Sept 1979).
I hope you find it interesting. Have you seen other medallions for the christening/commissioning of ships? Nowadays, maybe challenge coins get made for these purposes?

