America's First Medals: Medal Awarded to Major General Horatio Gates

On November 2, 1777, Congress resolved to thank Generals Gates, Lincoln, and Arnold for the victory at Saratoga and to mandate that the President give Major General Gates a gold medal in remembrance of the victory.

The medal was not finished until the middle of 1787, and it was shipped to America in August from Paris.

For the Victory at Saratoga, 1777

The medal depicts Gerneral Horatio Gates' bust.
The Latin inscription reads in translation:
The American Congress to Horation Gates, a dauntless general.

When General John Burgoyne, the British Commander, realized that his troops would need winter quarters in the summer of 1777, he chose to seize Albany rather than withdraw to Canada.
Bemis Heights, ten miles south of Saratoga, was the American stronghold, commanded by General Horatio Gates, the recently appointed Commander of the Northern Department. After being forced to retreat to Saratoga, General Burgoyne's attempts to outmaneuver the Americans and make his way to Albany were foiled. The British were essentially surrounded by General Gates, and on October 17, General Burgoyne submitted to Gates and the American army after losing hope that more reinforcements would arrive over the Hudson River.


The Latin inscription reads in translation:
The safety of the Norther Department- The enemy's surrender accepted at Saratoga on the 17th of October 177.

In 1889, the original gold medal was given to the New York Historical Society for preservation. It is likely that during a conflict, designs and a wax model of the Gates' obverse were destroyed.


Source

The United States Mint offered the America's First Medals Collection. These medals honor the American Revolutionary War engagements. Included in the set is this Mead awarded to General Horation Gates. The set was published in 1973 by the Smithsonian Institute's National Museum of History and Technology. There is one "medal" with the Department of the Treasury insignia and ten commemorative medals in the set. It also comes with a book detailing the history of each medal written by Vladimir and Elvira Clain-Stefanelli. With "America's First Medals" on the cover, the book and medals are housed in a classy blue "leather" cover that is tucked inside a white paper sleeve.

I shall feature the medals one by one.

America's First Medals, An Introduction

Medal Awared to George Washington



Reference

Medal Commemorating Battles of the American Revolution by Vladimir and Elvira Clain-Stefanelli
https://en.numista.com/catalogue/exonumia109294.html



😍#ilikeitalot!😍

Gold and Silver Stacking is not for everyone.
Do your own research!

If you want to learn more, we are here at the Silver Gold Stackers Community. Come join us!

Thank you for stopping by to view this article.

I hope to see you again soon!

Hugs and Kisses 🥰🌺🤙!!!!





I post an article daily. I feature precious metals every other day, and on other days I post articles of general interest. Follow me on my journey to save in silver and gold.

@silversaver888

.


0
0
0.000
42 comments
avatar

Nice one. However, I am not a fanboy of Gates. I feel he took credit on the shoulders of Arnold. That slight by the social caste system to recognize Gates and ignore the lower class Arnold's contribution I believe started the downward spiral for old Benedict.

0
0
0.000
avatar
(Edited)

Due to their heated argument and disagreement over military decisions at the First Battle of Saratoga, General Gates removed General Arnold as his second in command. Arnold continued to feel slighted by the army he served, and in 1780, he betrayed the Patriot cause by offering to hand over the Patriot-held fort at West Point, New York, to the British. With West Point in their control, the British would have controlled the critical Hudson River Valley and separated New England from the rest of the colonies. Arnold’s wife, Margaret ("Peggy"), was a Loyalist and would not have objected to his plans. However, his plot was foiled, and Arnold, the hero of the early battles of Ticonderoga and Saratoga, became the most famous traitor in American history. He continued to fight on the side of the British and, after the war, returned to Britain, where he died destitute in London in 1801.

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/arnold-and-gates-argue-at-first-battle-of-saratoga

I don't know, @coinjoe . General Arnold also received a gold medal.

#BBH

0
0
0.000
avatar

Now I need to search for a documentary again on the topic. Love this types of discussions, thanks for the link and quote. Arnold was an exceptional battlefield commander and even returned to the battle wounded, if I recall correctly, rallying the men. Too bad he allowed his wife and ego to have so much sway over him.

This is one of the reasons I love collecting so much!

0
0
0.000
avatar

Another Awesome Review of the Medals Ms. Saver @silversaver888
Thank You for doing each one in a Feature............
image.png
Gates in a c. 1794 portrait by Gilbert Stuart, on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

!LUV
!LADY

0
0
0.000
avatar

Ah history, I can picture it now...

His Battalion commander appeared troubled at the though, "Our supply line is stretched beyond what I am accustomed to sir, we should make preparations to return to Canada eh?"
General John Burgoyne's face scowled briefly before returning to his calm gaze, "Nonsense Winston, we are more than adequately equipped, we will simply seize Albany and winterize there, scouts report sufficient supplies and is easily defendable. What can possibly go wrong?"

Always, with love 🤗🌺❤️

0
0
0.000
avatar

You make it so more interesting, sis! 🤗🌺❤️
xoxo
!LADY
!PIZZA
!BBH

0
0
0.000
avatar

This has evolved to my new shtick.
A little historical scene ends when the antagonist says,
"What could possibly go wrong?"

!LUV
!BBH

0
0
0.000
avatar

@kerrislravenhill

image.png

Surrender of Burgoyne, October 17, 1777 : New York

!LUV
!LADY

0
0
0.000
avatar

The fact that I read this with the accents and everything 😭😂😂😂

0
0
0.000
avatar

Very detailed Reverse on this medal @silversaver888 !😊
So the original wax model of the Obverse was destroyed?🙄

0
0
0.000
avatar

Yes, @silvertop, it was destroyed, according to the book that came with the medals. The US Mint had new dies made for these medals.
!PIZZA

0
0
0.000
avatar

View or trade LOH tokens.


@silversaver888, You have received 1.0000 LOH for posting in Ladies of Hive. We believe that you should be rewarded for the time and effort spent in creating articles. The goal is to encourage token holders to accumulate and hodl LOH tokens over a long period of time.

0
0
0.000
avatar

A real piece of history-all of them. Thanks for sharing sis! Much love to you!🤗💜😘😍🌸💕🌟 !LADY !LUV

0
0
0.000
avatar

Hmmm
So you have the full First Medals set, with the book and all.

That's dope!

0
0
0.000
avatar

I didn't know anything about them before, after reading your post, my knowledge has increased, so now I am trying to learn more about them.

0
0
0.000