1795 $1 Flowing Hair, 3 Leaves MS(PCGS#6852)

Summer 2026 Global Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

2109

Grade

MS61

Price

67,100

Lot Description

BB Die State III. A noteworthy condition rarity to represent this historically significant type that has long been popular with advanced collectors. The lightly toned surfaces exhibit dominant golden-apricot and olive iridescence over a base of pearl gray, the latter more readily evident on the reverse. This die pairing is characterized by softness of strike in the centers, as seen here, but what we also see here is bold to sharp detail throughout the remainder of the design. The strike is well centered, the denticulation uniform and complete in all areas save for softness along the lower left obverse and upper left reverse borders, which is associated with a concentration of faint adjustment marks in the latter area. Frosty luster is full, if somewhat subdued to help explain the MS-61 assessment from NGC, but we see no sizeable or otherwise singularly distracting marks.<p>While first introduced in 1794, it was not until 1795 that the silver dollar was produced in numbers that would allow it to fulfill its intended role as the monetary unit of the fledgling nation. The number of dollars coined in 1795 is a matter of quite a bit of debate. The official Mint reports state that all told 203,033 dollars were coined in 1795, but there is no differentiation between the Flowing Hair and the Draped Bust types. Most references now generally cite a mintage of 160,295 for the 1795 Flowing Hair dollars, although Q. David Bowers indicates that figure may actually be far too low and that the total number of 1795 Flowing Hair dollars minted is likely closer to 290,000 pieces, with production from 1795-dated Flowing Hair dies perhaps continuing as late as 1798. Your cataloger (JLA) disagrees with this and, taking October 3, 1795 as the first date of coinage for the new Draped Bust, Small Eagle design type, believes that the mintage of the 1795 Flowing Hair silver dollar can be confidently pegged at 124,795 pieces. This represents the Mint's dollar deliveries from May 6 through September 24, 1795.<p>Regardless of exactly how many examples were struck, it is clear that demand from contemporary bullion depositors was strong and the Flowing Hair dollars of 1795 were eagerly sought for commercial use. With 1794 dollars out of reach of most collectors and seldom available, the 1795 BB-27 dollar has long filled the bill for those seeking an example of this historic issue. Expect spirited bidding for this visually appealing BU example.