Flowing Hair Half Dime Values & Mintages
The half dime was one of the denominations created by the Coinage Act of 1792. Robert Scot's Flowing Hair design shows Liberty with loose hair and a small eagle inside a wreath.
- Years
- 1794–1795
- Issues listed
- 2
- Lowest mintage
- 7,756
- Diameter
- 16.5 mm
Original illustration. Tap to flip.
Half dimes dated 1794 were struck in 1795, along with those dated 1795. Both dates are scarce. The 1794 is the rarer of the two.
Designer: Robert Scot.
Key dates: lowest mintages
See all 2 →Every Flowing Hair Half Dime by year and mint
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| Owned✓ | Coin | Year | Mint | Mintage | Type | Silver |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1794 Flowing Hair Half Dime | 1794 | None | 7,756 | Circulation strike | 0.0387 oz | |
| 1795 Flowing Hair Half Dime | 1795 | None | 78,660 | Circulation strike | 0.0387 oz |
Composition by year
| Years | Metal | Weight | Silver |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1794–1795 | 89.24% silver, 10.76% copper | 1.35 g | 0.0387 oz |
Mint mark location
1794–1795: No mint mark. Struck in Philadelphia.
Grading tips
Check the hair over Liberty's ear and the eagle's breast. Many early half dimes are weakly struck or adjusted, so judge wear and strike separately.
Telling a Flowing Hair half dime from later types
Three details separate this type from the half dimes that followed. Liberty has loose, flowing hair with no cap and no drapery at her shoulder. The reverse shows a small, thin eagle standing on a rock inside a wreath, without a shield. There is also no statement of value anywhere on the coin, which is why many owners at first take it for a token. If your coin shows drapery at the bust it is a Draped Bust half dime from 1796 or later.
The first half dimes of the Mint
The half dime was authorized by the Coinage Act of 1792. Half dismes dated 1792 were struck that year, but the Flowing Hair design of 1794 and 1795 was the first half dime made for regular circulation once the Mint was fully running. Robert Scot cut the dies. His Liberty, with her loose hair, appeared at the same time on the half dollar and the silver dollar.
The design was not popular. Critics thought Liberty looked plain and the eagle thin. Scot's Draped Bust portrait replaced it in 1796. That leaves the Flowing Hair half dime as a short two-year type.
Two dates, struck in one year
All Flowing Hair half dimes were delivered in 1795. Mint records give 86,416 in total, of which 7,756 are attributed to dies dated 1794 and the rest to dies dated 1795. The 1794 is therefore much scarcer than the 1795. Specialists know about fourteen die marriages and collect them by LM number, from the reference by Russell Logan and John McCloskey.
Most collectors want one example for a type set, usually a 1795. Because the type is short and every coin is old and small, all examples carry a strong collector premium.
What to check
Many survivors are worn, bent or holed, since the coins were tiny and easy to lose or damage. Look at Liberty's hair and the eagle's breast for detail. Fine lines across the surfaces may be adjustment marks from filing at the Mint and are not damage. Counterfeits are known, some with raised lines or a soft, mushy look, so have any example checked by a grading service before you rely on it.
Frequently asked questions
What is the rarest Flowing Hair Half Dime?
By mintage, the scarcest regular circulation issue is the 1794 Flowing Hair Half Dime with 7,756 struck, followed by the 1795 Flowing Hair Half Dime (78,660). Survival rates and condition also matter: some higher-mintage dates are scarce in top grades.
Are Flowing Hair Half Dimes silver?
1794–1795: 89.24% silver, 10.76% copper.
Where is the mint mark on a Flowing Hair Half Dime?
1794–1795: No mint mark. Struck in Philadelphia.
How many Flowing Hair Half Dimes were made?
About 86,416 for circulation across 2 date and mint combinations, from 78,660 for the 1795 Flowing Hair Half Dime down to 7,756 for the 1794 Flowing Hair Half Dime.
Who designed the Flowing Hair Half Dime?
Robert Scot.
Is a 1794 half dime really from 1794?
It carries the date 1794, but Mint records show the coins were struck and delivered in 1795 from dies made the year before.
Which is rarer, the 1794 or the 1795 half dime?
The 1794. Only 7,756 are attributed to the 1794 dies, against 78,660 for the 1795.
Why is there no value on a Flowing Hair half dime?
The early Mint did not show a denomination on its silver coins. The half dime was recognized by its size and weight.
Other odd denominations
Mintages from US Mint records as published in standard references, each checked against at least two independent sources. Specifications from US Mint records. All sources.