The Flowing Hair dollar is where the United States dollar becomes a physical federal coin: large, hand-made in appearance, and produced for only two dates.

This guide covers the 1794 and 1795 federal issues, including cataloged silver-plug material; later Draped Bust dollars form a separate series.

Core specifications

Issue period
1794–1795
Catalog mints
1
Reported catalog mintage
162,053
Composition
89% Silver - 11% Copper
Diameter
39.5 mm
Weight
26.96 g

A national unit of account becomes a coin

Authorized by the Coinage Act of 1792, the first federal dollars emerged from a young Philadelphia Mint still learning how to make large silver coins consistently.

The tiny 1794 delivery and the much larger 1795 production make a two-year series with very different availability. Adjustment marks and planchet irregularities belong to its early-minting context.

Obverse, reverse, and the details that identify the type

Confirm the major design, date, and mint mark before studying smaller die differences.

The main portrait and date

Robert Scot's Liberty faces right with loose, flowing hair and LIBERTY above; the date anchors the design below.

Denomination, subject, and mint mark

A small eagle stands within a wreath, surrounded by UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. No denomination appears on the faces.

Where the cataloged coins were made

Totals are calculated from reported issue records in this catalog; unknown figures are not counted as zero.

  • P — Philadelphia: 1794, 1795; 162,053. Philadelphia issues commonly carry no P mint mark in classic series; confirm the expected blank area rather than searching for a letter.

Representative issues that explain the series

Even the more available 1795 issues are specialist purchases. Date, die pairing, planchet quality, surface history, and authentication all matter.

  • 1794 P — 1,758. Open the issue page and read this record together with its type, mint, finish, and grade context.
  • 1795 P - All Varieties — 160,295. Open the issue page and read this record together with its type, mint, finish, and grade context.
  • 1795 P - Silver Plug — N/A. Open the issue page and read this record together with its type, mint, finish, and grade context.

Start with the major type, then study smaller die differences

The current catalog records 1 varieties. A variety name describes repeatable die features; it does not automatically mean error, rarity, or added value.

The issue catalog keeps all 1 modeled varieties attached to their parent issue records.

Issue catalog

1794 P Flowing Hair Dollar1795 P Flowing Hair Dollar - All Varieties1795 P Flowing Hair Dollar - 2 Leaves1795 P Flowing Hair Dollar - 3 Leaves1795 P Flowing Hair Dollar - Silver Plug

From one type coin to a complete catalog

  • One representative coin: Choose one problem-free, readable example and learn the size, edge, and major design.
  • Major-type set: Use one coin per major design to show changes in artwork, composition, or production.
  • Dates and mints: Work through the issue catalog by date and mint, defining special finishes separately.
  • Variety study: Choose one date or diagnostic family and record several matching markers for every attribution.

A note on catalog records

This page uses 5 issue records, 1 modeled varieties, and currently reported mintages; unknown values remain unknown.

Sources

  1. History of U.S. Circulating Coins — United States Mint
  2. Dollar Coins and Their History — United States Mint
  3. The Evolution of Liberty on U.S. Coins — United States Mint
  4. Flowing Hair Dollar category reference — PCGS CoinFacts