The 1794 Flowing Hair Dollar is an iconic and highly sought-after coin in the realm of American numismatics. As one of the earliest U.S. silver dollars, it holds a prominent place in the nation’s history.
The coin’s design, featuring a flowing hair portrait of Liberty on the obverse and a small eagle on the reverse, exudes a sense of classical elegance and embodies the spirit of the young United States. What sets the 1794 Flowing Hair Dollar apart is its rarity and historical significance.
With a low mintage of just 1,758 coins, it’s no wonder that this coin is considered one of the holy grails of American coin collecting.
In top condition, the 1794 Flowing Hair Dollar can command astronomical prices, with some specimens fetching millions of dollars at auction.
This coin’s enduring appeal lies not only in its scarcity but also in its historical connection to the early days of the United States. Struck at the young U.S. Mint in Philadelphia, it symbolizes the nation’s emergence and the establishment of its coinage.
The 1794 Flowing Hair Dollar’s exquisite design and limited availability make it a true treasure for collectors and historians alike, a tangible link to the birth of American coinage and a testament to the nation’s numismatic heritage.
Photo credit: National Numismatic Collection, National Museum of American History
Throughout its storied history, the 1794 dollar has consistently held the esteemed position of one of the scarcest and most prized among all United States coins.
The 1880 issue of The Coin Journal noted that a well-preserved 1794 dollar carried a value of fifty dollars — a significant sum at the time.
By 1990s, the eminent numismatic historian Jack Collins ventured that only a modest 120 to 130 of these coins had managed to endure the test of time.
$10 million
In 2013, a historic milestone in numismatics was reached when the finest known example of the 1794 dollar, meticulously struck and prepared with exceptional care, went under the gavel and commanded a staggering sum of $10,016,875.
This momentous auction established a new record for the highest selling price of any coin in history. Graded as Specimen-66 by the Professional Coin Grading Service, the coin’s distinct conditions during minting were duly recognized.
Notably, this coin had previously passed through the hands of prominent collectors, having been owned by Colonel E.H.R. Green before making its way to a public auction at Stack’s Bowers Galleries in January 2013.
Its journey to auction had already garnered considerable attention in 2010 when it was acquired by the Cardinal Collection Educational Foundation for a then-record sum of $7.85 million.
Further Reading
Pirate Guide to Collecting Australian Coins: 2023/2024 Edition, November 2, 2023 by Damian Walker
Renniks Australian Coin & Banknote Values 31st Edition Hardcover
A Guide Book of United States Coins 2022 75th Edition Spiral-bound by Garrett, Jeff, Bowers
Paper Money – North America – Australia – Oceania: COLOR PHOTOGRAPHY Paper money – Old and Rare Banknote (Banknotes of the world)
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