Coin Specifications

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

dollars flowing hair