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Mardi
Gras Doubloons also known as "throws,"
commemorate various Mardi Gras Krewes
(parade or carnival celebration). They
are typically made of aluminum and are
thrown from floats in carnival parades.
Other heavier metals such as bronze or
silver are sometimes used to mint coins
for collectors, souvenirs, or made to be
gifted as favors. The first doubloons
used as throws from parades of Mardi
Gras Krewes were made in 1960 by a
die-maker by the name of H. Alvin
Sharpe.
The first doubloons depicting a Major League ballplayer featured Babe Ruth
in 1967. A hundred Thousand
gold-colored; "Take Me Out to the Ball
Game" themed doubloons were created by
advertising salesman Ed Muniz for the
new Krewe of Endymion. In the years to
come the Mardi Gras throw Doubloons
were made of a light aluminum so when
thrown from a float it would not injure
anyone. They were also made in
different colors which included; gold,
yellow, red, blue, green, purple,
etc... and other players were the subject
of dedication, as listed below.
The New Orleans Mardi Gras
doubloons were produce by a local
business formed in 1964 called the
Barco Mint Company. In 1996, Barco Mint
changed its name to the New Orleans
Mint. In recent years, some Mardi Gras
organizations have also used producers
in China to mint their doubloons,
although New Orleans Mint remains
dominant.
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