How to Identify the Flowing Hair Dollar

Begin with the portrait. The Flowing Hair Dollar shows Liberty facing right with her hair long and unbound — no cap, no headband, no wreath in the hair. This loose, flowing hair is what names and defines the type, and it separates it from the later Draped Bust dollar, where Liberty faces right but her hair is tied back with a ribbon and her bust is draped in cloth. LIBERTY curves above the head, the date is below, and stars run up each side (fifteen on the 1794).

Turn to the reverse. You should see a small, thin eagle standing with wings spread inside an open wreath, ringed by UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. This early "small eagle" is delicate and naturalistic — not the large heraldic shield-breasted eagle of later dollars. Note that neither face carries the denomination as a number or words.

That is because the value lives on the edge. Check the edge for incused lettering reading HUNDRED CENTS ONE DOLLAR OR UNIT with ornaments. A genuine Flowing Hair dollar has a lettered edge, never a plain or reeded one. Confirm size and heft as well: the coin should be large, roughly 39–40 mm, and heavy at about 26.9 g of silver. A piece that is lightweight, magnetic, undersized, or has the wrong edge is a red flag.

Finally, weigh authenticity carefully. This type is among the most counterfeited and altered coins in the U.S. series because of its value. Genuine early-Mint striking is often uneven, with weakness at the left and occasional adjustment marks, but the design elements and lettering should still be correct and well-formed. Cast fakes look mushy, show seams, or carry an incorrect edge. Given the stakes, do not accept any Flowing Hair dollar as genuine without certification from a reputable third-party grading service such as PCGS or NGC.