Diagnostic Controls & Presets First US Silver Dollar Struck
Diagnostic Forensic Readings
Forensic Attribution Diagnostic
Real-time metallurgical and die variety cross-examination verified against certified populations.
Technical Breakdown: Physics, Metallurgy & Die Diagnostics
Struck on October 15, 1794 on a hand screw press under Mint Director David Rittenhouse in Philadelphia.
Chief Coiner Henry Voigt drilled underweight blanks and inserted a silver wire plug before striking to ensure absolute legal compliance.
Documented Benchmark Auction Records
The first coin in human history to break the $10 million threshold; widely recognized as the very first silver dollar struck.
Remarkable English provenance preserved in wooden cabinet drawers since 1795; glorious prooflike satiny luster.
Uncleaned, original gray-russet frontier patina with complete star details and full lettered edge inscription.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar?
The 1794 Flowing Hair Dollar was the very first silver dollar coined by the United States federal government. Struck on October 15, 1794, at the first Philadelphia Mint under Director David Rittenhouse, exactly 1,758 coins were accepted and delivered.
Why was a silver plug inserted into the coin?
Early Mint rolling mills struggled to maintain uniform planchet thickness. When blanks were weighed, underweight blanks were adjusted by drilling a central hole and pressing in an 8-grain pure silver plug before striking. Under the tremendous pressure of the screw press, the plug fused seamlessly with the host planchet.
How many 1794 Silver Dollars exist today?
Numismatists estimate that between 130 and 150 authentic specimens survive today across all conditions. The vast majority are heavily worn in grades between About Good-2 and Very Fine-30. Only a tiny handful exist in uncirculated Mint State.
Why is the strike weak on the left side of 1794 dollars?
The Philadelphia Mint's hand-turned screw press was designed for small cents and half dollars, not massive 39.5 mm silver dollar planchets. The excessive strike pressure caused the press frame to flex slightly, leaving the stars and 'LIBERTY' on the left side weakly struck on nearly all known examples.
What is on the edge of a 1794 silver dollar?
The edge is decorated with the incuse lettered inscription: 'HUNDRED CENTS ONE DOLLAR OR UNIT' with decorative ornaments between the words, applied before striking using a Castaing machine.
How can I detect an altered 1794 dollar?
The most common deceptive fake is a genuine 1795 Flowing Hair Dollar where a counterfeiter has carved or engraved the '5' into a '4'. Forensic magnification reveals disrupted metal flow around the date and mismatched star alignment. Genuine 1794 dollars have only ONE single obverse die pair (Bowers-Borckardt-1).
How much is an authentic 1794 Flowing Hair Dollar worth?
Even in heavily worn Good-4 condition, a genuine certified 1794 dollar sells for $80,000 to $120,000. In Fine to Very Fine, it brings $175,000 to $350,000. About Uncirculated examples command $600,000 to $900,000, while the single finest known specimen sold for $10,016,875.