#1 Flowing Hair Half Dollar Buyer Las Vegas & Henderson

History

The Flowing Hair half dollar was the first half dollar minted by the United States. The half dollar was authorized by the Act of April 2, 1792, however the coins were not minted until the end of 1794. In fact, the series only lasted from 1794 to 1795 before it was replaced by the Draped Bust half dollar. It contained approximately 90% silver and 10% copper, (the exact fineness being .8924 silver and .1076 copper). It weighed 13.48 grams and had a diameter of 32.5 mm. The Flowing Hair half dollar was only minted at the Philadelphia mint. The front, or “obverse” of the coin shows a bust of Liberty with long hair seemingly flowing in the breeze, hence the name, “Flowing Hair”. Fifteen stars surround the image of Liberty representing the 15 states in existence at the time. On the back of the coin or the “reverse”, there is a rather “skinny” eagle with wings outstretched, surrounded by branches and standing just above a ribbon.

The coins in the series have a lettered edge displaying the denomination of the coin with “FIFTY CENTS” or “HALF A DOLLAR”. In the 1795 coin there are three main variations. Two of the variations appear on the obverse of the coin and involve the 1795 date in both what is referred to as a normal and as a recut date, appearing as 1795/1795. The third variation shows three leaves under each wing of the eagle instead of two. There are also several minor variations in the coins, including a small head, the final S in States over a D, the A in States over an E and the Y in Liberty over a star.

Value

As our very first half dollar coinage, Flowing Hair half dollars are highly prized by collectors. However, because so few were minted in only two years of the series, they are quite expensive in any level of preservation. You can expect to pay between $1,000 and $3,000 for even a low grade example of either year. These coins are rare if nonexistent in mint state levels of condition. The finest known examples in almost uncirculated grade can be worth between $20,000 and $75,000.

Because there are so many varied opinions on the condition (or grade) of a coin, the values mentioned reflect the highest retail prices that have been obtained for those coins that have been assessed by a third party grading company. Such coins have been authenticated, graded and encapsulated by expert coin grading companies to minimize any doubt as to their authenticity, quality and value and therefore their potential worth.

We Buy Flowing Hair Half Dollars

We want to buy your coins and as a business it is our pledge to offer you the best value for your coins, however, always remember that the prices you may find online or in price guides usually represent the highest retail value for the coin in an already certified condition. As a trusted dealer we will have our coin specialists evaluate your coins at no cost and offer you a price that is both fair for you, but that also allows us to realize a reasonable profit.