Flowing Hair Half Dime 1794 - 1795
The Flowing Hair half dimes of 1794 were designed by Robert Scot, the Chief Engraver of the Mint. His design was different than that found on Birch's 1792 half dismes (the spelling of "disme" would gradually evolve to "dime." On the 1792 coins, the denomination is spelled HALF DISME). Scot's design features a head of Liberty facing to the right with distinctive flowing hair. Fifteen stars, arranged 8x7, surround the head with the date below and the word LIBERTY above. On the reverse, an eagle stands amid an olive branch with the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA around it. There is no indication of this coin's value on either side, nor would there be until the Capped Bust design was adopted in 1829.
All of the 7,756 Flowing Hair half dimes dated 1794 were actually struck in March, 1795. The 1794 half dime is a scarce coin in any grade. 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.
As one would expect, the quality of strike for 1794 half dimes is generally poor. In fact, the United States Mint had considerable trouble striking coins of this denomination until the 1830s. It is very hard to locate a 1794 half dime which is sharply detailed on the hair of Liberty. In addition, the eagle's breast feathers are very often flat and indistinct. On high grade pieces, wear will first show on the hair to the left of the ear, the forehead and on the eagle's head, breast and the tops of its wings.
Many of these early half dimes show adjustment marks on their surfaces. 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.
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The quality of strike for 1795 half dimes is a bit better than for 1794s but not by much. The centers are very often flatly impressed, and this tends to give the erroneous impression of wear. A number of coins show pronounced die cracks which further weaken the overall quality of strike. As with the 1794s, a number of 1795 half dimes show adjustment marks on their surfaces.
All Flowing Hair half dimes were struck at the first Philadelphia Mint. No true proofs are known, although some very sharp, reflective examples can lay claim to the status of "Presentation Pieces."
The design for half dimes was changed in 1796. Robert Scot was instructed to create a new, uniform design for the current silver denominations. 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 design, in all metals, to be very important and continually strove for a high degree of uniformity.
The Flowing Hair half dime is a very important coin in that it is one of the first official silver issues produced at the Philadelphia Mint by the United States. These coins are not terribly expensive in the higher circulated grades and they represent very fertile ground for the collector who is interested in the early history of this country.