So-Called Dollars

Revolutionary War Battles, Anniversaries, Headquarters, Memorials, Monuments - 1877 TO 1903

NOTE: See separate listings, Part I, for:
(1) Battle of Lexington Centennial—1875
(2) Lovett’s Eight Battles Medals, U. S. Centennial—1876
(3) Valley Forge Centennial—1878
(4) Bennington, Vt., Battle Monument, Vermont Centennial —1891

Many of these issues were of official nature; struck and sold to assist in defraying cost of particular celebration or memorial involved. While thus localized sometimes as to issue, original events obviously were of great national importance.

BATTLE OF SARATOGA MONUMENT (UNDATED) — CIRCA 1877

Obverse: Scene portraying surrender of British General Burgoyne to U. S. General Gates; above Salus Regionum Septentrional (translation: “Deliverence of Northern Territory”) — all within center circle; outside, above Saratoga Monument Association; below Incorporated April 19, 1860; beaded border.
Reverse: Monument; above Saratoga Monument; beaded border.

HK-119 - Silver or Silver-plate. Size 22.
HK-119a - Bronze.

WYOMING BATTLE AND MASSACRE CENTENNIAL—1878

Obverse: Scene depicting massacre by Indians—within center circle; outside, around. In commemoration of the battle and massacre of Wyoming. July 3. 1778.
Reverse: Monument, to l. 1778, to r. 1878, inside fenced grounds all within center circle; outside, around Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori * (translation: “It is a sweet and noble thing to die for one’s country”)

HK-120 - Bronze. Size 23.
HK-120a - Silver.
HK-120b - Brass.
HK-120c - Gilt.
HK-120d - Gold.
HK-121 White Metal.

Image provided by John Dean

BATTLE OF STONY POINT CENTENNIAL — 1879

Obverse: Military bust l.; above General Anthony Wayne; below bust July 16th / 1879; around Centennial anniversary of the battle of Stony Point; beaded border.
Reverse: Battle scene; above Stony Point expugnatum; below scene X V JuIy MDCCLXXIX

HK-122 - Bronze. Size 22.
HK-122a - White Metal.

Image provided by John Dean

BATTLE OF NEWTOWN CENTENNIAL — 1879

Obverse: Tower and grounds, to l. 1779, to r. 1879 — all within center circle; outside, around In commemoration of the battle of Newtown N. Y.; below Aug 29. 1779.
Reverse: Wreath around border, within circle within wreath and around in two lines * The forces of the Six Nations, under the leadership of Joseph Brant / aided by British regulars and Tories, across were defeated / by the / Americans / commanded by / Maj. Gen. John Sullivan / of N. H. / thereby hastening / the day / which assured to the / United States, their / existence as an independent / nation

HK-123 - Bronze. Size 25.
HK-123a - Silver.
HK-124 - Pewter.

Image provided by John Dean

BATTLE OF GROTON HEIGHTS CENTENNIAL — 1881

Obverse: Within low walls of Fort are American soldier re-loading musket and kneeling Indian aiming gun over wall — all in center circle; outside, around We will not give up the fort, let the consequences be what they may
Reverse: Outline of Fort; within outline Massacre / in / Fort Griswold; outside, to l. of Fort is directional arrow pointing N; below Fort and / Burning of / New London / September 6. 1781; around border Sep. 6. 1881 Centennial of the Battle of Groton Heights

HK-125 - White Metal. Size 25.
HK-125b - Bronze.
HK-125c - Silver.

Image provided by Robert Mayer

EVACUATION OF NEW YORK CITY CENTENNIAL — 1883

Obverse: Military bust, facing to r., below r. shoulder microscopic Morgan; to l., coat of arms; to r., around, G. Washington; on ribbon below bust, Exitus acta probat; beaded border.
Reverse: Seal: Three flags to l. and 3 to r. of shield, about which is open wreath, tied at bottom; 13 stars above shield, 2 cannon below; above all, around, Evacuation day / Centennial; below, around, Nov. 25 / 1783. City of New York. 1883

HK-125a - Bronze. Size 22.
HK-125d - White Metal.

VALLEY FORGE, 112th ANNIVERSARY OF EVACUATION — 1890

Obverse: Edifice; above Headquarters; below edifice June 19., 1890; border legend 112th. Anniversary of the evacuation of Valley Forge; beaded border.
Reverse: Within closed wreath and between small horizontal scrolls Souvenir; stars around entire border; beaded border.

HK-126 - White Metal. Size 22.

BATTLE OF TRENTON MONUMENT — 1893

Obverse: Monument; above, around. Trenton battle monument.; below, around Corner stone laid Dec. 26, 1891 Dedicated Oct. 19. 1893; beaded border.
Reverse: Bust of Washington 1.; above, around To commemorate the battle of Trenton, N. J.; below, around December 26. 1776.; just below bust, microscopic Bechtel Trenton; beaded border.

HK-127 - Bronze. Size 24.
HK-128 - Aluminum.
HK-128a - Brass.

Image provided by Jonathan Brecher

EVACUATION OF FORT SHELBY (DETROIT) CENTENNIAL — 1896

While evacuation of Ft. Shelby by British did not occur during Revolutionary War, it was direct result of and sequel to it; hence this listing.

Obverse: Group of buildings with flag flying from tall pole in center; above, around Centennial anniversary of the evacuation / of Fort Shelby by the British; below buildings Fort Shelby / 1796 / Detroit July 11, 1896; beaded border.
Reverse: State Seal; below are 13 stars around; beaded border.

HK-129 - Bronze. Size 22.
HK-130 - White Metal.

EVACUATION OF BOSTON, 125th ANNIVERSARY — 1901

Reverse of issue below is replica of famous Gold medal given General Washington by Resolution of Continental Congress March 25, 1776; only gold medal ever granted him by Federal Government. One hundred years later, just prior to both Centennial Celebration of Evacuation, Boston and to U. S. Centennial, Philadelphia—1876, 50 Boston citizens subscribed fund to purchase medal from Washington family who finally were induced to act due both "to losses sustained...during...Civil War...and (national) interest...of the centennial."

Purchasers immediately presented piece to City of Boston to be "preserved forever in the Boston Public Library." Medal is about 68 mm. in size, 2 11/16 mm. thick and weighs more than 7 oz.

These reproductions were distributed to Boston school children in 1901; struck by Whitehead & Hoag, Newark, N. J. Today, medal is scarce in choice condition.

Obverse: Within open wreath, across Souvenir / 125th / Anniversary / Evacuation day / Boston, Mass. / 1901; outside wreath, at bottom edge, microscopic W. & H. Co. Newark, N. J.; beaded border.
Reverse: Soldiers (Gen. Washington and 4 aides) on horseback on Dorchester Heights overlooking city and harbor from which British vessels are retreating; 2 cannon and shot in foreground with part of fortifications below; above all Hostibus primo fugatis; below all Bostonium recuperatum, XVII martn, MDCCLXXVI(translation: "The enemy fled immediately; Boston recaptured March 17, 1796"); beaded border.

HK-131 - Copper. Size 24.

Image provided by Jonathan Brecher

VALLEY FORGE, 125th ANNIVERSARY OF EVACUATION — 1903

Obverse: Edifice; above 125th Anniversary; below edifice, on ribbon Valley Forge headquarters; below ribbon 1778-1903; beaded border.
Reverse: Male bust facing front, in high relief; above George Washington; to l. of bust 1778, to r. Valley / Forge; beaded border.

HK-132 - White Metal. Size 24.
HK-132a - Bronze.

Image provided by John Dean

BATTLES OF BRANDYWINE, GERMANTOWN, MONMOUTH & STONY POINT — UNDATED

Obverse: Military bust facing part l.; above, around Major General Anthony Wayne; below bust born 1745 died 1796; beaded border.
Reverse: Across Brandywine / Germantown / Monmouth / Stony Point; above all 11 stars around; below, around, small Alfred S. Robinson’s historical series No. 1 - all within closed wreath which is around and close to entire border; beaded border.

HK-133 - Silver. Size 22.
HK-133a - Silver-plated.
HK-133b - Copper.
HK-133c - Brass.
HK-133d - Tin.

Image provided by John Dean

WASHINGTON’S HEADQUARTERS AT NEWBURGH, N. Y.; PROCLAMATION OF PEACE, DISBANDMENT OF ARMY CENTENNIALS — 1883

Obverse: Edifice in center; above, around Celebration at Newburgh, N. Y. / October 18th; below edifice, microscopic A. Demarest, Sr. N. Y.; upper border legend 1783 – Centennial - 1883; lower border legend Proclamation of peace, disbandment of the army
Reverse: Coat of Arms in center; around He was most nobly crowned by refusing to be crowned; 13 stars around last lettering; border legend Washington’s family coat of arms from which the American flag was designed

HK-134 - Bronze. Size 26.
HK-135 - White Metal.

VALLEY FORGE CENTENNIAL - 1878 - VALLEY FORGE, PA.

Medal commemorates 100th aninversary of departure of Continental Army from Valley Forge June 19, 1778. Authorized by 45th Congress, designed and engraved by William Barber, it was struck originally in 1880 at Philadelphia Mint; became one of Mint Medal Series (Miscellaneous No. 4) and still is available there in Bronze.

Today, Valley Forge State Park, over 2,000 acres and located 22 miles northwest of Philadelphia, preserves site of George Washington’s encampment during bitter Winter of 1777-78. Of 11,000 soldiers, almost 3,000 were incapacitated before Continental Army moved out to battle. Here in Park are restored soldier’s huts, redoubts, field hospital and Washington’s Headquarters. Later structures include Memorial Chapel, Cloister of Colonies, Peace Carillon, Museum of American History and Bell Tower of Daughters of the American Revolution.

Mint records reveal that during fiscal year 1880 about 20 medals were struck in Silver. These obviously are of extreme rarity, regular production being Bronze.

NOTE: For additional Valley Forge anniversary medals, see Part I, Revolutionary War Battles—Anniversaries, Headquarters, etc. — 1877-1903.

Obverse: Washington bust r.; below is microscopic Barber - all within beaded circle; outside, above George Washington; below * Commander in Chief *
Reverse: Within open wreath within beaded circle, in 8 lines, In / Commemoration / of the / Departure / of the / Continental / Army / June 19; outside, above Valley Forge Centennial; outside, below 1778—1878

HK-136 - Silver. Size 26.
HK-137 - Bronze

Image provided by John Dean