Flowing Hair Half Dollar, 1794-1795

Hair, flow it
Show it
As long as God can grow it
--Hair

As previously noted, half dollar production got underway in 1794. The initial design was similar to the other silver denominations (dollar, half disme) struck that year. The design is credited to Mint engraver Robert Scot, although his design was based on a pattern 25 cent piece developed by engraver Joseph Wright who died of yellow fever in 1793.

1795 Flowing Hair Half Dollar PCGS F12 CAC 2 Leaves

To operationalize the requirements specified by the Coinage Act, the obverse features a right-facing portrait of Ms Liberty with her hair flowing freely (thus the label 'Flowing Hair' half dollar). The flowing hair was said to signify freedom. LIBERTY appears above with the date below. Fifteen stars (8 left, 7 right), representing the 15 states in the Union at the time, encircle the left and right peripheries.

The reverse features a small eagle perched on a rock with wings spread. The eagle is surrounded by laurel branches. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA encircles the border.

The denomination is not indicated on either the obverse or reverse. Instead, the edge bears the inscription FIFTY CENTS OR HALF A DOLLAR with decorations between the words.

Flowing hair half dollars are slightly larger and heavier than later types because they carried more silver than specified by the Coinage Act. Congress had specified a fineness of 1485/1664, or .8924 for silver coins. However, the mint assayer complained that the fineness was unworkable and that coins would blacken unless they were at least .900 fine. His bosses went along with his claim and permitted a bump in silver content, although producing at the higher fineness meant breaking the law of the land.

Specifications were as follows:

Diameter: 32.5 mm
Weight: 13.48 g
Composition: .8924 silver, .1076 copper
Edge: Lettered
Net precious metal weight: .38676 oz silver

In late 1794, the Mint's rolling equipment broke down. Repairs took several weeks and, as 1794 drew to a close, the Mint still had a number of obverse dies on hand with the 1794 date. Rather than scrapping them, the Mint kept making half dollars marked 1794 into the calendar year 1795 until the 1794 dies became unusable. Production of Flowing Hair halves with 1795 dies then commenced.

Altogether, the Mint produced 23,464 half dollars dated 1794 and 299,680 pieces dated 1795. In 1796, a new design was introduced, making the two year tenure of the Flowing Hair half the shortest of all half dollar types.

The example above comes from the more common 1795 production year. The wear on the Ms Lib's face and on the eagle are consistent with a coin that was well circulated. It is a '2 Leaves' variety, referring to the number of leaves on the inside branches of the laurel wreath underneath the eagle. There is a more scarce '3 Leaves' variety as well. Using Al Overton's seminal classification system of early half dollar die varieties, this coin reflects the O-103A, R-5 die combination.

There is also an interesting 'die cud' or 'cud error' around in the A and M in AMERICA on the reverse. A cud is a die crack near the edge of the coin that becomes so severe that it causes a piece of the die to fall away. The result is a featureless blob on the face of the coin near the rim because the surface of the planchet has not been shaped by the die at that point. Immature coining technology of the period made cuds a much more common occurrence then than now.

To me, the most noteworthy feature of this example is its pleasing appearance. Most 200+ year old silver coins that survived lots of time in circulation develop a gun metal gray look to them. This example above, while well worn, was likely plucked from circulation while some brightness and luster remained. It was then placed in a paper album or wrapped in paper storage for many years. Interaction between chemicals in the storage medium, finger oil from handling the coin, and heat generated the rainbow of color evident today.

Like all old coins, it is also interesting to ponder where this piece has been and what it has seen. After all, it was struck when George Washington was president. If Ms Lib could talk, then she would surely tell some interesting tales about this coin's 218 years of existence.