medallion in the style of a commemorative coin featuring Marie Laveau

This item is a circular metallic medallion or token encased in a clear plastic Ziploc-style bag, held between a human thumb and fingers. The object exhibits a silver-toned finish with raised relief elements across its surface. The obverse side features a portrait of a person wearing a headwrap, depicted in three-quarter profile facing toward the left. Flanking the central portrait are raised capital letters and numbers. To the left of the bust, the text reads verbatim "MARIE LAVEAU", and to the right, the dates read verbatim "1801-1881". The background field within the raised rim is relatively smooth, while the portrait and lettering display varying levels of texture and relief detail typical of stamped or cast commemorative tokens. The edges appear rounded, and the metallic surface shows minor surface toning, light tarnish, and wear consistent with handling over time, though the transparent plastic bag creates reflections and distorts the clarity of fine surface details. Because the item is housed inside a protective plastic bag and lacks a visible maker's mark, mint mark, or hallmark in the image, the identification is based solely on visual characteristics and readable text. The style appears consistent with modern tourist souvenirs, commemorative tokens, or esoteric memorabilia rather than official currency. Without physical inspection, precise metallurgical composition, weight, and the reverse side remain unverified.

Based on what I can see in the provided image, this item appears to be a silver-toned commemorative token featuring a portrait and the text "MARIE LAVEAU" alongside the dates "1801-1881". The piece exhibits raised relief elements, minor surface toning, and wear consistent with handling. However, I cannot verify the exact metallurgical composition, weight, or the appearance of the reverse side from a photograph. Because the object is housed inside a protective plastic bag and lacks clearly visible maker's marks or hallmarks in the image, the identification must be treated as a working hypothesis rather than a confirmed fact. The style suggests a modern tourist souvenir or esoteric memorabilia item rather than official currency. My value estimate of $15 to $30 assumes the tentative attribution to a commemorative token of this specific type is correct. General market demand for contemporary souvenirs and esoteric tokens tends to be modest. If physical inspection reveals the item to be a modern mass-produced reproduction, replica, or simply made in the style of such memorabilia rather than a period-appropriate commemorative piece, the value would likely decrease to the lower end of the spectrum, roughly $5 to $10. To gain a clearer understanding of the item, I would need a physical inspection, verification of any potential edge markings or mint marks, and expert appraisal to properly evaluate its manufacture and material.