Vital Stats.
Designer: Robert Scot
Content: 90% silver 10% copper
Diameter: 39-40 millimeters
Weight: 27 grams
Edge: Lettered - "HUNDRED CENTS ONE DOLLAR OR UNIT" (ornaments between words vary)
Mint Mark: None (Philadelphia)
Flowing Hair Mintage
Year/
Mint Mark | Circulation
Strikes |
| 1794 | 1,758 |
| 1795 | 160,295 |
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The silver dollar was intended to be the cornerstone of the U.S. monetary system.
It was a display of America's ability to produce a silver coin similar to the Spanish pieces of eight.
On the obverse of the nations first silver dollar, Liberty is portrayed as a young
woman with her head held high and her hair, unfettered, flowing down her back. The
word "LIBERTY" is at twelve o'clock and the date is at six o'clock. Fifteen six
pointed stars complete the circle around a dentilled rim.
On the reverse, in the center is an eagle perched on a rock, his wings partially
outstretched, circled by a pair of olive branches tied at the bottom. The legend
(THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA) form the outer circle just inside the dentilled rim.
Either forgotten or considered unnecessary, the denomination of the first dollar was omitted.
Flowing Hair Dollar
The early dollars were produced from hand made dies, this probably accounts for
the variations in known examples. Blanks for the dollars were weighed before a
coin was struck, if too heavy, blanks were filed down to remove excess silver,
if too lite, a small silver plug was put in the center to increase the weight.
Adjustment marks, are often still visible and they remind us of the history
associated with early coin production.
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