1795 $1 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar, 3 Leaves, BB-27 NGC VF30

This specimen from AUCM would be perfect as the newest addition to the collection of a specialist in Flowing Hair coinage. The mintage of this 1795 $1 Flowing Hair BB-27 3 Leaves variety was 16,029. NGC has graded 1,376 of all varieties of the 1795 Flowing Hair dollar. From those, there are 465 graded VF with 551 finer. Collectors Universe prices the 1795 BB-27 variety at $12,500.00 in VF30.

The First Philadelphia Mint, where the Flowing Hair dollars were produced. Image: Public domain.

It was in 1794 that a journalist first saw the then new Flowing Hair design upon a dollar and wrote a brief report on it. "Some of the dollars now coining at the Mint of the United States have found their way to this town. A correspondent put one into the editor's hand yesterday." He described the design elements found on both sides, as well as upon the edge. He concludes, "The tout ensemble has a pleasing effect to a connoisseur; but the touches of the graver are too delicate, and there is a want of that boldness of execution which is necessary to durability and currency."

Writes numismatic art historian Cornelius Vermeule, "This criticism of device, style, and execution is one of the earliest surviving impressions of the first monumental coin of the United States." He discusses the Flowing Hair design of Robert Scot: "The young face and the youthful, flowing hair were admired symbols of the young republic." He also discusses the "goose-necked, tubular eagle within a wreath."