PCGS No: 6851, 86851

Mintage:
Circulation strikes: 1,758
Proofs: none

Designer: Robert Scot

Diameter: ±39-40 millimeters

Metal content:
Silver - 90%
Copper - 10%

Weight: ±416 grains (±27.0 grams)

Edge: Lettered - HUNDRED CENTS ONE DOLLAR OR UNIT (various ornaments between words)

Mintmark: None (all dates of this type were struck at the Philadelphia Mint)

Notes:
The finest examples graded by PCGS are 2 MS-66's.

The finest Specimen example grade by PCGS is a single SP-66 (illustrated above).

The best source of information on this date is the book "The Flowing Hair Silver Dollars of 1794 - An Historical and Population Census Study" by Martin A. Logies.  Mr. Logies documented the appearances of over 125 different 1794 Silver Dollars along with their auction pedigrees and other pertinent information.  This information is crucial to anyone contemplating the purchase of a 1794 Silver Dollar, since many of the coins are impaired and/or or repaired.

A single pair of dies accounts for all known examples of this date.  Many examples show adjustment marks on one or both sides, where excess metal was filed from the planchet before striking.  At least one example (the PCGS SP-66) shows both adjustment marks plus traces of a silver plug (which was added to the center of the coin to raise the weight of the planchet to the statutory requirement).

At some point in the striking process, the dies shifted and their faces were no longer parallel to each other.  This resulted in weakness on the left side of the obverse and the corresponding area of the reverse.  Only a very few 1794 Silver Dollars exhibit what can be called anywhere near a full strike.

Two copper patterns exist of this date, both unique.  The first pattern shows all of the design elements except for the obverse stars (Judd 18).  The second (Judd 19) is a well-struck die trial (presently in the National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian Institution).  Judd 18 and Judd 19 have different obverse dies, but share a common reverse.  Both the obverse and reverse dies of Judd 19 were later used to make the regular 1794 Silver Dollars.

Images courtesy of Rare Coin Wholesalers

Varieties (1):
BB-1, Bolender 1 - Very Scarce

Significant examples:
PCGS AU-58 (illustrated below)
 - Louis B. Hungerford, donated in 1926 to the Connecticut Historical Society
 - Cardinal Collection
- Superior 1/2005:501, "9th finest known"

Recent appearances:
NGC AU-55.  Ex - Bowers & Merena Galleries' "The Cabinet of Lucien M. LaRiviere, Part II", March 15-17, 2001, Lot 324, sold for $132,250.00

ICG EF-40.  Bolender 1.  Ex - Childs - W. Miller collection (ICG EF-40).

"EF-40, cleaned and burnished
- Superior 02/2000:380, $29,900.00

PCGS VF-20
- Quality Sales Corporation (Abner Kreisberg and Jerry Cohen) 10/1978:634
- Bowers & Merena 07/2002:424, $66,700.00

 VG-8.  Ex - Bowers and Merena Galleries' Robert W. Schwan Collection Sale, October 26-27, 2000, Lot 1399, sold for $34,500.00

Sources and/or recommended reading:
"Walter Breen's Complete Encyclopedia of U.S. and Colonial Coins" by Walter Breen

"The PCGS Population Report, July 2004" by The Professional Coin Grading Service

Independent Coin Grading Company advertisement, Numismatic News, October 3, 2000, page 21

"The Flowing Hair Silver Dollars of 1794 - An Historical and Population Census Study" by Martin A. Logies