Description
When Mehmet Munir Ertegun, the Turkish ambassador to the United States, died, his body was returned to Istanbul aboard the USS Missouri. While anchored in the Bosphorus, the Missouri fired a 19-gun salute honoring the late ambassador. The pomp and circumstance of this eastern Mediterranean voyage was one way that President Harry Truman told the USSR's Joseph Stalin to keep his hands off Turkey and Greece. Each of the sailors and marines aboard the mighty battleship was presented with a special box of thirty Turkish cigarettes.
Re: Commemorative Missouri Cigarettes
I have seen about 10-15 of these come up over the past 5 years or so. One of them, in mint condition, recently appeared on this website as a matter of fact. They remain a mystery when it comes to value, I have zero public auction records available. It's an interesting historical item, I really wish I could let you know what it's worth. If I were to take a shot in the dark, I would estimate $75-125 at auction with the right crowd.