Authorized under the Coinage Act of 1792, the first silver dollar coins in America were produced with the minting of the Flowing Hair Dollar. This historically unique series had some interesting and variable aspects related to its specifications. The composition was 89.24% silver and 10.76% copper as specified by the Act. This differs from the later adopted “coin silver” composition of 90% silver and 10% copper. The coins had a diameter which ranged from 39 to 40 mm. Blanks used to strike the coins were hand weighed. Some blanks which were underweight or overweight were manually adjusted by filing excess silver or inserting a silver plug. Finally, instead of a reeded edge, the Flowing Hair Dollar had a lettered edge consisting of the coin’s denomination.
Flowing Hair Dollar Coin Specifications
| Dates: |
1794 - 1795 |
| Mints: |
Philadelphia |
| Composition: |
89.24% silver |
|
10.76% copper |
| Weight: |
26.96 grams |
|
0.87 ounces |
| Diameter: |
39-40 mm |
|
|
dollars flowing hair
The Sacagawea Dollar was introduced in 2000 with much publicity. The United States Mint was making an ambitious attempt to create a dollar coin which would gain popularity as a circulating coin. The coins ultimately did not circulate widely and the series was relaunched as the Native American Dollar series in 2009. The obverse design of the coin features the Shoshone born Native American Sacagawea who accompanied Lewis & Clark on their expedition. The reverse features an eagle in flight. Glenna Goodacre designed the obverse and Thomas D. Rogers Sr. designed the reverse. Coins have been minted at the Philadelphia and Denver Mints with proof coins minted at San Francisco.
Sacagawea Dollar Coin Specifications
| Dates: |
2000 - 2008 |
| Mints: |
Philadelphia |
|
Denver |
|
San Francisco |
| Composition: |
88.5% copper |
|
6% zinc |
|
3.5% manganese |
|
2% nickel |
| Weight: |
8.1 grams |
|
0.20 ounces |
| Diameter: |
26.50 mm |
|
1.05 inches |
dollars sacagawea
The Walking Liberty Half Dollar was issued from 1916 to 1947. Along with other designs of the same era, this is considered to be one of the most beautiful in the history of circulating American coinage. The obverse features a rendition of the allegorical Liberty figure standing and striding forward with a hand outstretch. The reverse features an eagle perched on a stone. The designer of the coin was Andrew A Weinman. The Walking Liberty Half Dollar was minted at the Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco Mints. The lowest mintage occured with the 1921-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar with 208,000 coins struck.
Walking Liberty Half Dollar Coin Specifications
| Dates: |
1916-1947 |
| Mints: |
Philadelphia |
|
Denver |
|
San Francisco |
| Composition: |
90% silver |
|
10% copper |
| Weight: |
12.50 grams |
|
0.40 ounces |
| Diameter: |
30.61 mm |
|
1.21 inches |
halves liberty
The Standing Liberty Quarter was issued from 1916 to 1930. Many consider this coin to feature one of the most beautiful United States coin designs from the Renaissance era of US coinage. The design, featuring a standing image of Liberty holding a shield and olive branch, was created by Hermon A. MacNeil, a sculptor from Massachusetts. The reverse design features an eagle in flight. During the course of the Standing Liberty Quarter series, coins were minted at the Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco Mints. The lowest mintage occurred with the 1916 coin, when only 52,000 were minted.
Standing Liberty Quarter Coin Specifications
| Dates: |
1916-1930 |
| Mints: |
Philadelphia |
|
Denver |
|
San Francisco |
| Composition: |
90% silver |
|
10% copper |
| Weight: |
6.25 grams |
|
0.20 ounces |
| Diameter: |
24.26 mm |
|
0.96 inches |
quarters liberty