Personal Finance

1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar Upgraded To MS-67, $15 Million

Published

2 weeks ago

February 9, 2025

Miley

1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar Upgraded To MS-67, $15 Million

The 1794 Flowing Hair silver dollar holds a special place in numismatic history as the first dollar coin minted by the United States.

Recently, the finest known example of this coin received a significant upgrade in its grading, further cementing its status as a numismatic treasure.

Recent Grading Upgrade

In 1995, this particular 1794 dollar was sold at a Stack’s auction as a Gem Brilliant Uncirculated coin. In 2010, it was graded by the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) as MS66+ and received a Certified Acceptance Corporation (CAC) sticker of approval.

Recently, experts at CAC Grading re-examined the coin and certified it as Mint State 67 (MS-67), recognizing it as the finest known surviving example from the inaugural year of U.S. dollar coinage.

The coin is now insured for $15 million and may make its first public appearance in 30 years during 2025.

Historical Provenance

The coin’s pedigree dates back to the 1920s with renowned collector Col. E.H.R. Green and later, mid-century legendary type set collector Lelan Rogers.

In 1995, dealer Jay Parrino purchased it for $577,500. The following year, Parrino and partner Mike Phillips sold it to dealer Chris Napolitano for a Georgia collector, who remains anonymous under the set registry name “Stellar.”

Owner’s Perspective

The current owner has held the coin privately for nearly three decades. Chris Napolitano, who facilitated the 1996 sale, noted that his client was pleased with the recent grading results, which validated his long-held belief in the coin’s exceptional quality.

Napolitano emphasized the coin’s significance, stating, “Since I first saw this coin at Stack’s in 1995, I felt it was one of the most important U.S. coins in existence.”

Auction Description

The 1995 Stack’s auction described the coin as:

“1794 Bolender 1. Gem Brilliant Uncirculated. 416.1 grains. A gorgeous toned satin gem coin. Both sides are toned a lovely, deep coin silver gray with iridescent champagne and palest iridescent blue around the rims.

The fields are fully lustrous and satiny, the frost virtually unmarred by signs of handling. One has to wonder how such a big and heavy coin could have survived for 200 years with such satiny surfaces intact.”

Year	Event	Grade	Price	Owner
1995	Stack’s Auction	Gem Brilliant Uncirculated	$577,500	Jay Parrino
1996	Private Sale	–	–	Chris Napolitano’s client
2010	PCGS Grading	MS66+	–	Anonymous (“Stellar”)
2025	CAC Grading	MS-67	Insured for $15 million	Anonymous (“Stellar”)

The 1794 Flowing Hair silver dollar’s recent grading upgrade to MS-67 highlights its unparalleled quality and historical significance.

As the finest known example of America’s first dollar coin, it stands as a testament to the nation’s rich numismatic heritage.

FAQs

Who currently owns this coin?

The coin is owned by a collector who remains anonymous under the set registry name “Stellar” and has held it privately since 1996.

Will the coin be displayed publicly?

There is potential for the coin to make its first public appearance in 30 years during 2025, though specific dates and venues have not been announced.