Flowing Hair

The US Mint struck Half Cents and Large Cents during its first year of operation in 1793. By the next year, engraver Robert Scot turned his attention to our first silver coinage. He needed to design a Half Dime, Dime, Quarter Dollar, Half Dollar, and Dollar coins. But that was too many coins to design and create dies for in one year, so he concentrated on the Half Dime, Half Dollar and Silver Dollar. The coins shared the same designs, and all receive the same reaction from the public. His depiction of Miss Liberty with hair flowing straight back was not liked by the public, Congress or Mint officials.

The obverse depicted her, facing right, hair flowing back at a downward angle. Above her was the motto “LIBERTY” flanked by 15 five-pointed stars – seven to the right and eight to the left. Below Miss Liberty was the date.

The reverse depicted a scrawny-looking American eagle with its wings outstretched, enclosed in an open olive branch wreath. The legend “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” is around the periphery of the coin. There is no denomination stated except on the edge of the coin where the lettering states “FIFTY CENTS OR HALF A DOLLAR.”

Less than 24K of these coins were struck and dated 1794. A year later, almost 300K were struck bearing the 1795 date. But the public outcry forced a re-design of the Half Dollar in 1796.