Congress authorized the silver dollar on April 2, 1792 with 416 grains 892.4 fine being the weight and fineness of the coin.
In 1794, the first silver dollar was issued and remained in circulation until 1804 with the value one dollar, hundred cents or unit on the edge of the coin. The value of the coin was engraved on the reverse side after a slip in simple or reeded edges.
On January 18,1837 a new act of Congress changed the weight to 412 ½ grains with a fineness of .900, the coin was removed from circulation on February 12, 1873 but was put back in circulation on February 28, 1878. It was removed again following another act of Congress in 1835. Only copper-nickel coins have been issued since 1971.
The flowing hair silver dollar was used from 1794 to 1795, designed by Robert Scot. It weighed 26.96 grams and was composed of .8924 silver and .1076 copper, 39 to 40mm in diameter, with one dollar or unit, hundred cents stamped on the edge. The draped bust coin was used from 1795 to 1798 and has a small eagle on the reverse side.
It was late in 1835 when R.M. Patterson instructed Christian Gorbrecht to create dies from a design created by Thomas Sully and Titian Peale. The front has a seated Liberty and the reverse displays an eagle with 26 stars and the statement United States of America One Dollar. Gorbrecht’s name had been on the first dies. In late 1836, pieces were produced using 416 grains in accordance with the 1792 standards for coins.
