Flowing Hair Silver Dollar

The US Congress authorized the dollar as legal tender as part of the Mint Act of 1792 but due to delays, the silver coinage was not put into production until 1794 with the dollar and half dollar. Congress specified that the new coins should have a design that was ‘emblematic of Liberty’ so engraver Robert Scot produced a right facing youthful female with flowing hair. The word LIBERTY appears above her and fifteen stars are along the side with the date below. Scot meant for Liberty’s flowing hair to signify freedom. The reverse has a small eagle with wings spread sitting on a rock with laurel branches surrounding it. Circling this is UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. The edge of the Flowing Hair silver dollar has the inscription HUNDRED CENTS ON DOLLAR OR UNIT.

The Flowing Hair dollar series is collected according to type, with most collectors collecting the 1795 because they are easier to acquire. Some of the 1795 dollars have two leaves under each of the eagle’s wings while others have three. The Flowing Hair coins are prized because of the link they have to the birth of the United States and US coinage.

The Flowing Hair dollar was produced for just two years, from 1792 to 1795.