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The Contursi 1794 Silver Dollar
America's First Silver Dollar Struck
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1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar
When Congress authorized the minting of coins in the United States, they instructed that the new coins should
have a design that was “emblematic of Liberty.”
The engraver Robert Scot created the silver dollar with a portrait of a young female facing the right with her
hair flowing freely behind her to the left.
The word “LIBERTY” was positioned above her with the date centered below.
Fifteen starts appear along the sides to represent the fifteen states at the time.
It has been accepted that the flowing hair was meant to stand for freedom.
The reverse of the dollar coin shows a small eagle perched upon a rock with wings spread and surrounded by
laurel branches.
Along the border is the motto “United States of America.”
The edge of the coin, or third side, has the words “HUNDERED CENTS ONE DOLLAR OR UNIT” inscribed with
decorations separating the words.
The Flowing Hair Dollar is slightly larger and heavier than later coins such as the Morgan or Peace dollars.
Production of the silver dollar coins was suspended after the 1794 minting due to problems in achieving adequate
strikes with the old equipment.
A new press was installed in May of 1795 and the mint again began making the Flowing Hair dollars dated 1795.
In October, 1795, the design was changed to the Draped Bust design.
The flowing Hair Silver Dollar was only minted for two years, with a very limited production in the first year.
In modern times, silver dollars have been enormously popular with collectors and investors.
The Flowing Hair dollars are even more coveted due to their great rarity and their strong link to the beginning
of the United States of America and the nation’s first coinage.
One of the 1794 Flowing Hair silver dollars recently came into the possession of Steve Contursi, President of
Rare Coin Wholesalers of Irvine, California.
Steve saw the coin and had a hunch that not only was the coin the finest known example of the first United
States silver dollar, but it quite possible is the very first coin of that denomination ever stuck in the
United States.
Mr. Contursi asked David Hall, founder of Professional Coin Grading Services (PCGS), to assess the coin.
Mr. Hall stated “I believe that the coin is the finest known example of the 1794 Flowing Hair silver dollar.
It is a magnificent Gem and a gorgeous historical treasure.”
There are only a small handful of pre-1816 coins that are obviously special strikes that PCGS designates as
“Specimens.”
PCGS determined that the coin is a Specimen striking with a grade of SP66.
When Mr. Hall examined the coins, he said “It made my heart thump!”
“This is one of our nation’s treasures,” says Steve Contursi.
“It is a numismatic classic and a museum piece.
It was probably handled by President George Washington, Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson and Secretary of
the Treasury Alexander Hamilton.
To any numismatist, this coin has a history like no other coin.
This coin is to our economy and international trade what the Declaration of Independence is to our
country’s freedom: a significant piece of history and national treasure.”
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