Archive for December, 2009
Flowing Hair Half Dime Mintage
The first delivery of Flowing Hair Half Dimes occurred on March 30, 1795. These coins had been minted in February or March 1795, although they were dated 1794. It seems that production had been expected to begin in the prior year and a number of obverse and reverse dies were prepared in anticipation. For some [...]
Flowing Hair Half Dime Design
The design of the Flowing Hair Half Dimes struck in 1795 bear virtually no resemblance to the earlier 1792 Half Disme pattern coins. Mint Engraver Robert Scot is said to have created the Flowing Hair design. On the obverse, a relatively large head of liberty is facing right, with long hair flowing backwards. Fifteen stars [...]
1792 Half Disme Pattern
The smallest silver denomination authorized under the Coinage Act of April 2, 1792 was the half dime, or half disme. The first examples of the denomination were struck in 1792 from silver that is said to have been deposited by George Washington. The 1792 Half Disme was part of a pattern series produced that year, [...]