Agate Fossil Beds Dinohyus Hiking Medallion by L.W. Bristol Classics
$7.00
In stock
Shipping calculated in cart/checkout:Â Shipping rates for first items start at $7, calculated based on weight of total order.
Die-cut enameled metal hiking medallion shaped to the profile of Dinohyus, the giant entelodont whose first complete skeleton was excavated from the Agate quarries in 1908. Colorful enamel front, brushed metal reverse. Three nails included for attaching to a hiking stick. Made for BHPFA by L.W. Bristol Classics. Approved by Agate Fossil Beds National Monument.
- 1 3/4″ x 1 5/16″, die-cut Dinohyus silhouette
- Three metal nails included for attaching to a hiking stick, walking staff, or paddle
- Enameled metal with colored fill, brushed metal reverse
- Weight: 0.1 oz (medallion only)
- Pairs with the matching Agate Fossil Beds Dinohyus Pin and Dinohyus Patch for the full set.
In stock
60-day returns · Ships from South Dakota via USPS
Agate Fossil Beds Dinohyus Hiking Medallion by L.W. Bristol Classics
$7.00
In stock
Shipping calculated in cart/checkout:Â Shipping rates for first items start at $7, calculated based on weight of total order.
Die-cut enameled metal hiking medallion shaped to the profile of Dinohyus, the giant entelodont whose first complete skeleton was excavated from the Agate quarries in 1908. Colorful enamel front, brushed metal reverse. Three nails included for attaching to a hiking stick. Made for BHPFA by L.W. Bristol Classics. Approved by Agate Fossil Beds National Monument.
- 1 3/4″ x 1 5/16″, die-cut Dinohyus silhouette
- Three metal nails included for attaching to a hiking stick, walking staff, or paddle
- Enameled metal with colored fill, brushed metal reverse
- Weight: 0.1 oz (medallion only)
- Pairs with the matching Agate Fossil Beds Dinohyus Pin and Dinohyus Patch for the full set.
In stock
60-day returns · Ships from South Dakota via USPS
Real USPS rates, no markup. The money we save funds trail crews and internships.
Join BHPFA for $30 a year -> get your code by email in seconds. -> Use it at checkout today. Show your card at hundreds of nonprofit park stores nationwide for 10% off.
Every item is selected or approved by rangers and staff. Your purchase keeps them on the front lines.
Real USPS rates, no markup. The money we save funds trail crews and internships.
Join BHPFA for $30 a year -> get your code by email in seconds. -> Use it at checkout today. Show your card at hundreds of nonprofit park stores nationwide for 10% off.
Every item is selected or approved by rangers and staff. Your purchase keeps them on the front lines.
Description
What is the Agate Fossil Beds Dinohyus Hiking Medallion?
A die-cut enameled metal medallion shaped to the profile of Dinohyus, the giant entelodont whose nearly complete skeleton was excavated from the Agate quarries in 1908. Made for BHPFA by L.W. Bristol Classics, a Bristol, Tennessee maker of park medallions, pins, and patches. The face is enameled with the Dinohyus profile in color; the back is brushed metal with three small nail holes for attaching to a hiking stick.
It’s the largest of three Dinohyus collectibles BHPFA carries. The pin is for lapels and bag straps. The patch is for jackets and daypacks. The hiking medallion is for walking sticks, paddles, and shadow boxes.
What’s in the package
- One die-cut enameled metal hiking medallion, 1 3/4″ x 1 5/16″
- Three metal nails for attaching to a wooden hiking stick, staff, or paddle
- Mounted on a presentation card
How to attach it
Pre-drill three small pilot holes in your walking stick first, then press the nails through the medallion and into the holes. The metal can be gently bent to follow the curve of a round staff. For flat surfaces like a bike frame, RV panel, or shadow box, flatten the medallion and use a strong adhesive instead of the nails.
Specifications
- Size: 1 3/4″ x 1 5/16″ (die-cut Dinohyus profile)
- Weight: 0.1 oz (medallion only)
- Construction: Enameled metal with colored fill
- Reverse: Brushed metal finish with three mounting holes
- Attachment: Three metal nails included
- Packaging: Mounted on a presentation card
- Manufacturer: L.W. Bristol Classics (Bristol, TN)
About Dinohyus
Dinohyus (now classified as Daeodon shoshonensis) was an early Miocene mammal that lived in North America roughly 23 to 18 million years ago. It stood close to 6 feet at the shoulder, ran about 10 feet from snout to tail, and weighed up to 1,000 kg (about 2,200 lb). The skull alone was about 3 feet long, built for crushing bone. Despite the “pig” nickname, modern genetic and morphological studies place entelodonts closer to hippos and whales than to true pigs.
The connection to Agate Fossil Beds is direct. In 1908, Olaf Peterson of the Carnegie Museum excavated a nearly complete Dinohyus skeleton from the Agate quarries. It is the most complete entelodont specimen ever recovered. He named the new genus Dinohyus, meaning “terrible pig.” Later research showed the same animal had already been named Daeodon by Edward Drinker Cope in 1878, and under taxonomic naming rules the older name wins. Park signage and most modern references use Daeodon. Older displays, the original Carnegie specimen, and most of the popular literature still call it Dinohyus, which is why the medallion uses the historical name.
About Agate Fossil Beds National Monument
Agate Fossil Beds is in the Nebraska panhandle, between the towns of Harrison and Mitchell. The monument protects Miocene-era mammal fossil beds, including some of the most complete early-horse, rhinoceros, and entelodont fossils in North America. It also holds the James H. Cook Collection of Lakota artifacts, friendship gifts from Red Cloud and other tribal leaders to the Cook family, who ranched the land in the 1880s.
The monument was established in 1965. It sits on River Road off Highway 29, well off the interstate, which keeps visitor traffic light. People who go out of their way to get there usually want a small souvenir to mark the trip. The Dinohyus medallion is built for that, sized to nail onto a hiking stick alongside other parks you have walked.
Who is this for?
Hikers and walking stick collectors. If you made the drive out to Agate Fossil Beds, this is the obvious medallion to add to your staff. The die-cut Dinohyus silhouette is recognizable at a glance for anyone who has stood in front of the Dinohyus mount at the visitor center, and the size matches other park medallions in the L.W. Bristol Classics line so it sits right alongside them.
Fossil and paleontology fans. Anyone who follows Miocene mammal paleontology, entelodont taxonomy, or the history of the Carnegie Museum’s Western expeditions will recognize the design without explanation. The Dinohyus profile is the iconic Agate fossil.
Park hiking medallion collectors. Several parks have a die-cut creature medallion in this format from L.W. Bristol Classics. If you collect them, this is the Agate Fossil Beds Dinohyus entry. They display well on a corkboard, lanyard, or shadow box if you do not nail them to a stick.
Gift buyers. $4.99 on a card. Easy add-on to a larger order, easy to mail flat, no wrapping needed. Pairs cleanly with the matching Dinohyus Pin and Dinohyus Patch for a small gift set, or with the Agate Fossil Beds Sign Hiking Medallion (SKU 4881) for the two-medallion Agate set.
About the hiking medallion tradition
The hobby started in alpine Europe, where hikers hammered metal markers onto their walking staffs at mountain huts and summits. The US version is built around national parks and landmarks instead of mountain tops. The idea is the same: collect one wherever you go, nail it to your stick, and end up with a physical record of where you have been.
L.W. Bristol Classics has been making these for parks, trails, and historic sites around the country since the 1980s. They produce matching pins and patches in the same artwork for most of their medallion designs. BHPFA carries several L.W. Bristol Classics medallions for partner parks. Browse the Collectibles section to see what is in stock for Wind Cave, Jewel Cave, Scotts Bluff, and Agate Fossil Beds.
Frequently asked questions
What does the medallion look like?
A die-cut metal medallion in the silhouette of Dinohyus, the giant entelodont fossil from Agate Fossil Beds. The face has the Dinohyus profile in colored enamel. The back is brushed metal with three small nail holes.
Is this Dinohyus or Daeodon?
Both names refer to the same animal. Dinohyus was the name given in 1905 to the complete skeleton excavated at Agate Fossil Beds. Daeodon was an earlier name from 1878 that turned out to apply to the same species. Under the rules of zoological nomenclature, the older name (Daeodon) is the valid scientific name today, but Dinohyus remains the historical name attached to the Agate specimen and stays in common use. The medallion uses the historical name.
Where can I see the actual Dinohyus skeleton?
The original Agate specimen is at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh. Casts and related fossil material are on display at the Agate Fossil Beds National Monument visitor center, along with other Miocene mammals from the quarries.
How big is it?
1 3/4 inches along the long axis by 1 5/16 inches tall. The die-cut Dinohyus shape is wider than it is tall, so it sits flat against a hiking stick or display card.
How does it attach to a hiking stick?
Three metal nails are included. Pre-drill three small pilot holes in your wooden walking stick first, then press the nails through the medallion holes and into the stick. The medallion can be gently shaped to follow a round staff.
Can I put it somewhere other than a hiking stick?
Yes. L.W. Bristol Classics notes that their medallions also attach to paddles, canes, and flat surfaces like RV panels and bike frames using a strong adhesive instead of the nails. You can also leave it mounted on the presentation card as a small display piece.
Is there a matching pin or patch?
Yes. The Agate Fossil Beds Dinohyus Pin (SKU 4882) is a 1″ enameled metal pin with a post-and-clutch back, designed for lapels and bag straps. The Agate Fossil Beds Dinohyus Patch (SKU 4883) is a 3″ embroidered iron-on patch for jackets, packs, and hats. All three are made by L.W. Bristol Classics.
What other Agate Fossil Beds hiking medallions does BHPFA carry?
The Agate Fossil Beds Sign Hiking Medallion (SKU 4881) features the entrance-sign silhouette in the same medallion format. Browse the Agate Fossil Beds park store page for the full list.
Can I get my Passport to Your National Parks book stamped at Agate Fossil Beds?
Yes. Agate Fossil Beds National Monument is part of the NPS Passport stamp program. Bring your Passport book to the visitor center on River Road in Harrison, NE. If you’re starting a Passport book, BHPFA carries the Passport to Your National Parks Classic Edition.
Does buying this support national parks?
Yes. BHPFA is the official nonprofit partner of Wind Cave National Park, Jewel Cave National Monument, Scotts Bluff National Monument, and Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, as well as the Black Hills National Forest and Nebraska National Forests & Grasslands. Proceeds from every purchase support education programs, conservation projects, and visitor services at these sites.
More from Agate Fossil Beds
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When you shop with Black Hills Parks & Forests Association, you are directly funding:
- Education programs — nature workshops, Junior Ranger activities, and homeschool adventures for kids across the Black Hills
- Trail maintenance — keeping hiking trails safe and accessible at Wind Cave, Jewel Cave, and the Black Hills National Forest
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- Conservation — supporting the long-term health of public lands in the Black Hills and Nebraska
BHPFA is the official nonprofit partner of the National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service in the Black Hills region. We have supported these public lands since 1946.
Additional information
| Weight | 1 oz |
|---|---|
| Brand | L.W. Bristol Classics |
| Dimensions | 1 3/4" x 1 5/16" (die-cut) |
| Weight | 0.1 oz |
| Material | Enameled Metal |
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