The United States Mint has released images of the 2024 Flowing Hair Silver Medal in advance of its scheduled October 15 release, which coincides with the 230th anniversary of the 1794 Flowing Hair dollar, the first U.S. dollar coin. This medal features the iconic designs originally created by Robert Scot, the U.S. Mint’s first Chief Engraver.
The images of the silver medal show not only its design, but also that of the corresponding 230th anniversary gold coin “Flowing Hair,” which is scheduled to be issued sometime this fall.
In late 2023, draft designs for the pair were submitted to the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) and the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC). The review panels made different final recommendations. The CFA preferred alternatives that addressed alignment issues in the original 1794 designs, while the CCAC favored the originals. Ultimately, the originals prevailed, with the U.S. Mint describing the final designs as “true replicas of the original dollar, redesigned by Mint medal artists.” The redesign is credited to Mint medal artists John P. McGraw for the obverse and Eric David Custer for the reverse.
The obverse features the original 1794 dollar, updated with the year “2024.” The portrait of Liberty faces right, surrounded by 15 stars representing the states that had ratified the Constitution by 1794. The reverse features a laurel wreath surrounding an eagle with outstretched wings, an early predecessor of the American heraldic eagle.
The silver medal is priced at $104, mintage has yet to be announced, but there will be an initial order of five per household. The medal was struck at the Philadelphia Mint in uncirculated condition, is made of .999 fine silver, weighs 1,000 troy ounces, has a diameter of 1.598 inches (40.60 mm) and has a smooth rim.
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Similar to the 1794 silver dollar, the 2024 Flowing Hair 24-karat gold coin is engraved with the face value: ONE HUNDRED ★★ CENTS, ★★ ONE ★★ DOLLAR ★, and ★ OR ★★ UNIT ★★★.
The first Flowing Hair silver dollars of 1794 were minted on October 15, 1794. The U.S. Mint produced only 1,758 of them that year.
