Revolutionary War Commemoratives (1877-1903)

About This Coin

Spanning the centennial era and beyond, Revolutionary War Commemoratives from 1877 to 1903 document a period when Americans enthusiastically commemorated the founding generation through medals, so-called dollars, and metallic souvenirs marking battle anniversaries, monument dedications, and patriotic gatherings. The 1876 centennial of American independence ignited a wave of commemorative medal production that continued for decades, as communities celebrated the specific Revolutionary War events that occurred in their regions — battles at Yorktown, Saratoga, Bunker Hill, and Monmouth each inspired their own medallic tributes. These so-called dollars typically feature portraits of Washington, Lafayette, and other Revolutionary leaders on one side, with scenes of battles, monuments, or patriotic allegorical figures on the reverse. The category also includes medals produced for organizations such as the Sons of the Revolution and the Daughters of the American Revolution, whose founding in this period reflected the growing interest in genealogical and patriotic heritage. Within the National Commemorative & Expo So-Called Dollars series, Revolutionary War Commemoratives offer collectors a numismatic pathway into the centennial-era rediscovery of America's founding narrative. A notable auction result reached $5.8K in MS64 grade at Stack's Bowers, with the rarest and most artistically accomplished pieces commanding the strongest premiums among so-called dollar specialists.