1976 Biccentenial Replica of America’s First Medals Pewter Series. Revolutionary Medal of Genral Horatio Gates. The Second Medal of the Ten-piece series.. The ten-medal series, part of the Treasury Department’s Bicentennial program, consists of 1-1/2″ pewter reissues of the first medals voted by the Continental Congress to honor the bold commanders and successful Revolutionary War battles that won for a new nation its freedom and independence. General Horatio Gates assumed command of the Northern Department on August 19 and led the army during the defeat of British General Burgoyne's invasion in the Battles of Saratoga.