SCOT’S FLOWING HAIR HALF DOLLARS (1794-1795):

Scot’s Flowing Hair Half Dollar was issued was issued from 1794 to 1795. It showed a portrait of Liberty facing right with her hair loosely tied behind her head. Above her head was the word LIBERTY, and the date was below. There were fifteen stars, eight to the left and seven to the right. The reverse of the Flowing Hair Half Dollar showed a perched eagle with wings spread looking to the right. A wreath tied with a bow encircles the eagle. The legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is in an arc around the eagle. Except for its edge lettering, the Flowing Hair Half Dollar has no denomination. Like European coinage of the time, silver and gold pieces were valued by their weight and fineness so the denomination was largely irrelevant. Prior to the issuance of the Flowing Hair Half Dollars only copper coins were made because neither the Chief Coiner, Henry Voigt, nor the Assayer, Albion Cox, could post the $10,000 bond required to be responsible for gold and silver.

Thomas Jefferson recommended to President Washington that this bond requirement be reduced. Washington and Congress agreed, and in 1794 Scot was able to produce a die for the cent and the Flowing Hair Half Dollar coins. Since there was no standardized hubbing, individual punches were used for numbers, letters, the stars, and leaf punches. The edge was lettered FIFTY CENTS OR A HALF DOLLAR with decorative designs in between the words.