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The total number of coins produced at a specific mint for a particular date and mintmark combination. The total number of coins that have obtained a higher grade than the subject coin by a particular grading service. The eagle was also slightly modified, but that basic design remained until replaced by the Heraldic Eagle design in 1800. While it may not be as rare as other coins from this era, it is still relatively scarce, especially in high grades. Relative Rarity By Series ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Series. Relative Rarity By Type ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Type.
Flowing Hair Half Dime VF-30 PCGS CAC (LM-
1795 Half Dollar Speaks Volumes of U.S. Mint History - Numismatic News
1795 Half Dollar Speaks Volumes of U.S. Mint History.
Posted: Sun, 30 Oct 2022 07:00:00 GMT [source]
The reverse displays UNITED STATES OF AMERICA along the edge of the coin inside a denticled rim. Just inside the legend is an encircling pair of olive branches, crossed and tied at the bottom but slightly separated at the top. In the center, a right-facing eagle with outstretched wings rests on a surface, perhaps a cloud or a rock.
Coin Guide
As you can see in the above coin (graded MS-62 by PCGS) the breast feathers on the eagle are often missing. The first delivery of Flowing Hair Half Dimes occurred on March 30, 1795. All of the coins in this delivery carried the 1794 date and had been produced in February or March of 1795.
S Three-Dollar Gold Coin : A Collector’s Guide
The United States Mint struck copper coins first, as problems with the law prohibited the coinage of silver and gold coins until Mint employees posted an adequate bond. The excessive regulation required a bond of $10,000 apiece for the chief coiner and assayer, each of whose pay was $1,500 per year. Mint Director David Rittenhouse, a well known mathematician and astronomer, worked with Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson to convince Congress to lower this requirement. Congress lowered the requirement in late 1793, and the production of silver coins began in 1794, with gold coin production starting in 1795. The Flowing Hair variety of Half Dime was designed by Chief Engraver of the US Mint Robert Scot.
Flowing Hair Half Dime H10C - Certified NGC XF Details - Rare Date Coin!
It’s also a great example of the work of Robert Scot, one of the most important early American coin designers. This means that collectors who can find a well-preserved example will have a valuable addition to their collection. While it may not be the rarest coin out there, it is certainly a valuable one that offers a glimpse into the early days of American coinage.
These adjustment marks, often still visible, remind us of the history of early coin production. Some underweight blanks were adjusted using a small silver plug in the center of the planchet, an easier and less expensive fix than melting unacceptable coins and starting over. Limitations in the ability of the Mint to produce a coin of this size resulted in mostly weakly struck coins for 1794, some of which were rejected for circulation.
It seems that production had been expected to begin in the previous year and a number of obverse and reverse dies had been prepared. For an unknown reason, but most likely lack of silver or an unfinished design, the start of production had been postponed until the following year. The 1794 Half Dime was the first year that this denomination was made inside the new United States Mint, thus this date carries a premium with type collectors. The 1794 Half Dime has a low mintage and is very scarce in all conditions.
Design
Remember that the fledgling US mint was still trying to determine the proper “mix” for our country’s silver coinage. All of the 7,756 Flowing Hair half dimes dated 1794 were actually struck in March, 1795. In mint state, it is very rare, although a group of a dozen or so extremely choice uncirculated pieces exist from a hoard found and dispersed around 1880.
The 1795-dated half dimes generally have a slightly better strike than their 1794-dated counterparts. But expect strikes to be uneven, possibly with strong centers and weak designs around the perimeter or vice versa. These coins are magnificent pieces of historical Americana and relics of the George Washington presidential administration. The Flowing Hair half dimes of 1794 were designed by Robert Scot, the Chief Engraver of the Mint.
While a number of these very interesting die varieties exist for the Flowing hair half dime series, these coins are nearly always collected as a type. The major reason for this has to do with the difficulty of assembling extensive, higher grade die variety sets. All 1794 Flowing Hair Dollars are very expensive to prohibitively expensive, with select pieces selling for a million dollars or more. Dollars of 1795 are also expensive at all grades but are the more “affordable” option for type set collectors. This issue sees dramatic price increases as coins approach the About Uncirculated grade and beyond.
The left wing (viewer’s right) is in front of the olive branch wreath, and the right is behind it. No denomination or mintmark appears on the coins; all were minted in Philadelphia. To make a coin, a coiner must apply significant pressure to impart the images from the coin dies onto the blank. Blanks for Flowing Hair Dollars were weighed before the coins were struck, and blanks that were too heavy were filed to remove excess silver.
The half dime, dime, quarter dollar and half dollar of 1796 all have a Draped Bust obverse which is coupled with the Small Eagle reverse. Mint officials considered the standardization of coinage designin all metalsto be very important and continually strove for a high degree of uniformity. These are file marks made on the planchet before a coin is struck in order to reduce the weight to the Mint’s standard. Adjustment marks are very common on 18th and early 19th century American coins, and they are not considered a detriment to the grade or the value of a coin. Just inside the legend is an encircling pair of olive branches, crossed and tied at the bottom but slightly apart at the top. The left wing (viewer’s right) is in front of the olive branch wreath, the right behind it.
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