The Flowing Hair half dollar brought the new federal half-dollar denomination into production in 1794 and 1795, with all the planchet and striking character of the young Philadelphia Mint.

This guide covers the two-date Flowing Hair half dollar series. Draped Bust half dollars begin a separate design family in 1796.

Core specifications

Issue period
1794–1795
Catalog mints
1
Reported catalog mintage
323,144
Composition
89% Silver - 11% Copper
Diameter
32.5 mm
Weight
13.48 g

A practical large silver coin for the early republic

The Philadelphia Mint delivered the first federal half dollars in 1794. Robert Scot's design shared the young nation's Flowing Hair language with the earliest federal silver denominations.

Production expanded in 1795, but both dates were made with early equipment and individually prepared planchets. Adjustment marks, uneven strikes, and surface history therefore require careful interpretation rather than automatic rejection or praise.

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

Liberty faces right with loose, flowing hair, LIBERTY above, the date below, and stars framing the portrait.

Denomination, subject, and mint mark

A small eagle stands within a wreath beneath UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. The faces do not state the denomination.

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; 323,144. 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

A single authenticated example can represent the type; a complete date set is compact in slots but demanding in cost and surface quality.

  • 1794 P — 23,464. Open the issue page and read this record together with its type, mint, finish, and grade context.
  • 1795 P - All Varieties — 299,680. Open the issue page and read this record together with its type, mint, finish, and grade context.

Issue catalog

1794 P Flowing Hair Half Dollar1795 P Flowing Hair Half Dollar - All Varieties1795 P Flowing Hair Half Dollar - Normal Date1795 P Flowing Hair Half Dollar - Recut Date1795 P Flowing Hair Half Dollar - 3 Leaves Under Each Wing

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.

A note on catalog records

This page uses 5 issue records, 0 modeled varieties, and currently reported mintages; unknown values remain unknown.

Sources

  1. History of U.S. Circulating Coins — United States Mint
  2. Half Dollar Coins — United States Mint
  3. Flowing Hair Half Dollar category reference — PCGS CoinFacts