Commems Collection Classic: Quick Bits 104 - Commemorating Battles

It's no surprise to realize that many hugely important moments in US history involved military conflict. If you enjoy military-themed commemorative coins, a short topical set of "Battle Commemoratives" might be just your thing!


1925 Battle of Lexington-Concord


The 1925 Lexington-Concord Half Dollar was issued as part of the US' observance of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the Battle of Lexington and Concord. The battles in the two towns were the first military engagements between the American colonial militia forces and the British Army regulars (first in Lexington, then in Concord and then again as the British left Concord and headed back to Boston through Lexington) -- it was the start of the American Revolutionary War.

1927 Battle of Bennington-Vermont independence Sesquicentennnial


In 1777, the British had a plan to separate the New England colonies from the more southern colonies. In an attempt to achieve this, British General John Burgoyne began a campaign from Canada through the Lake Champlain area with Albany, New York as his target. The plan saw some initial success -- Burgoyne took Fort Ticonderoga in July -- but Burgoyne's forces were in desperate need of supplies by August. So, he sent a force of approximately 800 Hessian and Native American troops to Bennington, Vermont to obtain the needed provisions as well as wagons and horses -- the British had reports that Bennington was being used as a supply depot by the Americans. Thinking the town was only lightly defended, the British were surprised when they encountered heavy resistance from the Vermont and New Hampshire militia -- including the Green Mountain Boys -- as they approached. The Americans emerged victorious with less than 30 casualties, while the British suffered over 200 casualties and had roughly 600 troops captured. The Battle of Bennington is considered one of the turning points in the Revolutionary War for the Americans. One note on the battle, while the storehouse of supplies may have been in Bennington, Vermont, the battle actually occurred approximately 10 miles to the west in New York.

1936 Battle of Gettysburg 75th Anniversary


The three-day Battle of Gettysburg is acknowledged as the Civil War battle with the highest number of casualties and, with the North emerging victorious, the point in the war at which the North began to take firm control of its outcome

1937 Battle of Antietam 75th Anniversary


The coin commemorates the bloodiest single day of the Civil War -- 17 September 1862. During the battle, the first major battle on Union soil, it is estimated that over 23,000 soldiers were either killed or wounded. The battle took place in Washington County, MD, in the vicinity of Sharpsburg.


Note: I have not included the 1925 Stone Mountain Memorial Half Dollar on my list as it commemorates events well beyond a single battle - the entire US Civil War. Similar reasoning was used to exclude the 1934-38 Texas Independence Centennials coins as many battles were fought during the Texas War for Independence. But, of course, my list can be modified to suit individual collector preferences!)


What If?

I've also discussed a few battle commemorative coin proposals that failed to gain approval; you can read about them via the provided links:

- 1925 Battle of Bunker Hill
- 1927 Battle of Bennington Gold Dollar
- 1938 Battle of Chickamauga
- 1963 Battle of Lake Erie Sesquicentennial

And a "Phantom" commemorative coin proposal that didn't quite make it to Congress:

- 1928 Battle of Long Island/Brooklyn


Medals

Lastly, I've posted about a pair of medals with ties to the "Battle Commemorative" coins discussed above; you can read about them via the provided links:

- 1875 Battle of Lexington Centennial
- 1927 Battle of Bennington-Vermont independence Sesquicentennnial


For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including more on each of the "Battle Commemoratives" introduced here, see: Commems Collection.