exact portions of our coasts, of which complete charts have been published by the coast 3 March 1553. survey; also, showing such other parts of the coasts of which the triangulation, the topography and the soundings have been completed, but not published; and, also, such parts of the coasts of which the triangulation and topography, or the triangulation only, have been completed. I. COINS OF THE UNITED STATES. 1. What coins to be struck, and value thereof. 2. Proportional value of gold and silver. 3. Standard of gold and silver. Ailoy. 4. Weight of silver coins. To be a legal tender. 5. Weight of gold coins. To be a legal tender 6. Former coinage to be a legal tender. 7. Devices and legends. 8. Double eagles and gold dollars to be coined. 9. To be a legal tender. 10. Laws relating to the coin to apply to them. Coinage. [See CRIMES. MINT.] 11. What deviations from the standard weight to be allowed. 12. Three cent pieces to be coined. Devices. To be a legal ten der for thirty cents and under. Deviation from weight. 13. Weight of half dollars and smaller coins. 14. Tender for sums not exceeding five dollars. 15. Three dollar pieces to be coined. Devices. 16. Secretary to regulate size and devices of silver coin. Weight of three cent piece. 17. Weight and composition of the cent. 18. Materials to be purchased from the bullion fund. 19. How distributed. II. FOREIGN COINS CURRENT IN THE UNITED STATES. 20. When foreign coin to cease to be a tender. 21. To be recoined. 22. E-timation of foreign coins and currencies. Powers of the president 23. In what foreign coin duties may be paid. 24. Coins of India. how estimated. 25. Foreign gold and silver coins to be current at certain rates. Annual assay and report. 26. Repeal and suspension of act of 1793. 27. What foreign coins receivable in payment for lands. 28. Annual assay and report. 29. What foreign silver coins to be current. 30. Annual assay and report. 31. What foreign gold coins to be current. 32. Annual assay and report. 33. Computation of the pound sterling. 34. Certain gold coins to be current by weight. 35. Certain silver coins to be current. 36. Annual assay and report. 37. Computation of certain foreign moneys at the custoin houses. 38. Extended to other foreign moneys. 39. At what rates, fractions of Spanish and Mexican dollars to be received. 40. To be recoined. 41. Repeal of foriner laws. Assay to be made. I. COINS OF THE UNITED STATES. 1 Stat. 248. struck. and value 1. There shall be from time to time struck and coined at the said mint, coins of gold, 2 April 1792 39. silver and copper, of the following denominations, values and descriptions, viz.: eagleseach to be of the value of ten dollars or units, [and to contain two hundred and forty- What ecins to be seven grains and four-eighths of a grain of pure, or two hundred and seventy grains of thereof. standard gold.] Half-eagles-each to be of the value of five dollars, [and to contain Eagles. one hundred and twenty-three grains and six-eighths of a grain of pure, or one hundred Half-eagles. and thirty-five grains of standard gold.] Quarter-eagles-each to be of the value of two Quarter-eagles. dollars and a half-dollar, [and to contain sixty-one grains and seven-eighths of a grain of pure, or sixty-seven grains and four-eighths of a grain of standard gold.] Dollars or Dollars. units—each to be of the value of a Spanish milled dollar as the same is now current, [and to contain three hundred and seventy-one grains and four-sixteenth parts of a grain of pure, or four hundred and sixteen grains of standard silver.] Half-dollars-each to Half-dollars. be of half the value of the dollar or unit, [and to contain one hundred and eighty-five grains, and ten-sixteenth parts of a grain of pure, or two hundred and eight grains of standard silver.] Quarter-dollars-each to be of one-fourth the value of the dollar or Quarter-dol ́ars. unit, [and to contain ninety-two grains and thirteen-sixteenth parts of a grain of pure, or one hundred and four grains of standard silver.] Dismes-cach to be of the value Dismes. of one-tenth of a dollar or unit, [and to contain thirty-seven grains and two-sixteenth parts of a grain of pure, or forty-one grains and three-fifth parts of a grain of standard silver.] Half-dismes-each to be of the value of one-twentieth of a dollar, [and to con- Half-disines. tain eighteen grains and nine-sixteenth parts of a grain of pure, or twenty grains and four-fifth parts of a grain of standard silver.] Cents-each to be of the value of one- Cents. hundredth part of a dollar, [and to contain eleven pennyweights of copper. Half-cents -each to be of the value of half a cent, and to contain five penny weights and half a pennyweight of copper.] (a) Ibid. 11. 2. The proportional value of gold to silver in all coins which shall by law be current as money within the United States, shall be as fifteen to one, according to quantity in Proportional weight, of pure gold or pure silver; that is to say, every fifteen pounds weight of pure value of gold and silver shall be of equal value in all payments, with one pound weight of pure gold, and so in proportion as to any greater or less quantities of the respective metals. silver. 5 Stat. 197. 3. The standard for both gold and silver coins of the United States shall hereafter be 18 Jan. 1997 8. such, that of one thousand parts by weight, nine hundred shall be of pure metal, and one hundred of alloy; and the alloy of the silver coins shall be of copper; and the alloy Standard of gold of the gold coins shall be of copper and silver, provided that the silver do not exceed one-half of the whole alloy: (a) The contents of the several coins have been altered by subsequent laws; see infra, 4, 5, 13, 17 and silver. Alloy. 18 Jan. 1837 9. 4. Of the silver coins, the dollar shall be of the weight of four hundred and twelve Weight of silver and one-half grains; [the half-dollar of the weight of two hundred and six and one coins. To be a legal tender. Ibid. 10. coins. fourth grains; the quarter-dollar of the weight of one hundred and three and one-eighth grains; the dime, or tenth part of a dollar, of the weight of forty-one and a quarter grains; and the half-dime, or twentieth part of a dollar, of the weight of twenty grains, and five-eighths of a grain.] (a) And that dollars, half-dollars and quarter-dollars, dimes and half-dimes, shall be legal tenders of payment, according to their nominal value, for any sums whatever.(b) 5. Of the gold coins, the weight of the eagle shall be two hundred and fifty-eight Weight of gold grains; that of the half-eagle one hundred and twenty-nine grains; and that of the quarter-eagle sixty-four and one-half grains. And that for all sums whatever, the eagle shall be a legal tender of payment for ten dollars; the half-eagle for five dollars; and the quarter-eagle for two and a half dollars. To be a legal tender. Ibid. 11. 6. The silver coins heretofore issued at the mint of the United States, and the gold Former coinage coins issued since the 31st day of July 1834, shall continue to be legal tenders of payment for their nominal values, on the same terms as if they were of the coinage provided for by this act. to be a legal tender. Ibid. 13. Devices and legends. 3 March 1849 21. 9 Stat. 397. Double eagles and gold dollars to be coined. Ibid. 22. to them. 7. Upon the coins struck at the mint there shall be the following devices and legends: upon one side of each of said coins there shall be an impression emblematic of liberty, with an inscription of the word LIBERTY, and the year of the coinage; and upon the reverse of each of the gold and silver coins, there shall be the figure or representation of an eagle, with the inscription United States of America, and a designation of the value of the coin; but on the reverse of the dime and half-dime, cent [and half-cent] the figure of the eagle shall be omitted. 8. There shall be, from time to time, struck and coined at the mint of the United States, and the branches thereof, conformably in all respects to law, (except that on the reverse of the gold dollar the figure of the eagle shall be omitted,) and conformably in all respects to the standard for gold coins now established by law, coins of gold of the following denominations and value, viz.: double eagles, each to be of the value of twenty dollars, or units, and gold dollars, each to be of the value of one dollar, or unit. 9. For all sums whatever, the double eagle shall be a legal tender for twenty dollars, and the gold dollar shall be a legal tender for one dollar. Ibid. 23 10. All laws now in force in relation to the coins of the United States, and the striking Laws relating to and coining the same, shall, so far as applicable, have full force and effect in relation to the coin to apply the coins herein authorized, whether the said laws are penal or otherwise; and whether they are for preventing counterfeiting or debasement, for protecting the currency, for regulating and guarding the process of striking and coining, and the preparations therefor, or for the security of the coin, or for any other purpose. Ibid. 24. What deviations from the standand weight to allowed. 3 March 1851 9 Stat. 591. be 11. 11. In adjusting the weights of gold coins henceforward, the following deviations from the standard weight shall not be exceeded in any of the single pieces-namely, in the double eagle, the eagle, and the half-eagle, one-half of a grain, and in the quarter-eagle, and gold dollar, one-quarter of a grain; and that, in weighing a large number of pieces together, when delivered from the chief coiner to the treasurer, and from the treasurer to the depositors, the deviation from the standard weight shall not exceed three pennyweights in one thousand double eagles; two pennyweights in one thousand eagles; one and one-half pennyweights in one thousand half-eagles; one pennyweight in one thousand quarter-eagles; and one-half of a pennyweight in one thousand gold dollars. 12. It shall be lawful to coin at the mint of the United States and its branches, a piece of the denomination and legal value of three cents, or three-hundredths of a dollar, to be Three cent pieces composed of three-fourths silver and one-fourth copper, and to weigh twelve grains and to be coined. Devices. thirty cents and under. three-eighths of a grain ;(c) that the said coin shall bear such devices as shall be conspicuously different from those of the other silver coins, and of the gold dollar, but having the inscription United States of America, and its denomination and date; and To be a tender for that it shall be a legal tender in payment of debts for all sums of thirty cents and under. And that no ingots shall be used for the coinage of the three cent pieces herein authorized, of which the quality differs more than five-thousandths from the legal standard; and Deviation from that, in adjusting the weight of the said coin, the following deviations from the standard weight. weight shall not be exceeded, namely, one-half of a grain in the single piece, and one pennyweight in a thousand pieces. 10 Stat. 160. 21 Feb. 1853 1. 13. The weight of the half-dollar or piece of fifty cents shall be one hundred and ninety-two grains, and the quarter-dollar, dime, and half-dime, shall be, respectively, one-half, one-fifth, and one-tenth of the weight of said half-dollar. (a) Altered. infra, 13. (b) Half-dollars and smaller coins only a tender for sums not exceeding five dollars; infra, 14. (c) Altered; infra, 16. 14. The silver coins issued in conformity with the above section, shall be legal tenders 21 Feb. 1853 § 2. in payment of debts for all sums not exceeding five dollars. coined. 15. From time to time there shall be struck and coined at the mint of the United States, Ibid. 27. and the branches thereof, conformably in all respects to law, and conformably in all Three dollar respects to the standard of gold coins now established by law, a coin of gold of the value pieces to be of three dollars, or units, and all the provisions of an act entitled "An act to authorize the coinage of gold dollars and double eagles," approved March 3d, 1849, shall be applied to the coin herein authorized, so far as the same may be applicable; but the devices and Devices. shape of the three dollar piece shall be fixed by the secretary of the treasury. 10 Stat. 188. late size and 16. And the secretary of the treasury is hereby authorized to regulate the size and 3 March 1853 § 7. devices of the new silver coin, authorized by an act entitled "An act amendatory of existing laws relative to the half-dollar, quarter-dollar, dime and half-dime," passed at Secretary to reguthe present session; and that, to procure such devices, as also the models, moulds and devices of silver matrices or original dies for the coins, disks or ingots authorized by said act, the director coin. of the mint is empowered, with the approval of the secretary of the treasury, to engage temporarily for that purpose the services of one or more artists, distinguished in their respective departments, who shall be paid for such services from the contingent appropriation for the mint: And that hereafter the three cent coin now authorized by law Weight of three shall be made of the weight of three-fiftieths of the weight of the half-dollar, as provided cent piece. in said act, and of the same standard of fineness. And the said act entitled "An act amendatory of existing laws relative to the half-dollar, quarter-dollar, dime, and halfdime," shall take effect and be in full force from and after the 1st day of April 1853, anything therein to the contrary notwithstanding. 11 Stat. 163. position of the 17. The standard weight of the cent coined at the mint shall be seventy-two grains, or 21 Feb. 1857 24. three-twentieths of one ounce troy, with no greater deviation than four grains in each piece; and said cent shall be composed of eighty-eight per centum of copper and twelve Weight and com per centum of nickel, of such shape and device as may be fixed by the director of the cent. mint, with the approbation of the secretary of the treasury; and the coinage of the halfcent shall cease. Ibid. 85. bullion fund. 18. The treasurer of the mint, under the instruction of the secretary of the treasury, shall, from time to time, purchase from the bullion fund of the mint the materials neces- Materials to be sary for the coinage of such cent piece, and transfer the same to the proper operative purchased from officers of the mint to be manufactured and returned in coin. And the laws in force relating to the mint and the coinage of the precious metals, and in regard to the sale and distribution of the copper coins, shall, so far as applicable, be extended to the coinage herein provided for: Provided, That the nett profits of said coinage, ascertained in like manner as is prescribed in the second section of this act, shall be transferred to the treasury of the United States. Ibid. 26. 19. It shall be lawful to pay out the said cent at the mint in exchange for any of the gold and silver coins of the United States, and also in exchange for the former copper How distributed. coins issued: and it shall be lawful to transmit parcels of the said cents, from time to time, to the assistant treasurers, depositaries and other officers of the United States, under general regulations proposed by the director of the mint, and approved by the secretary of the treasury, for exchange as aforesaid. And it shall also be lawful for the space of two years from the passage of this act and no longer, to pay out at the mint the cents aforesaid for the fractional parts of the dollar herein before named, at their nominal value of twenty-five, twelve-and-half and six-and-quarter cents, respectively. (a) II. FOREIGN COINS CURRENT IN THE UNITED STATES. 1 Stat. 301. coin to cease to 20. At the expiration of three years (b) next ensuing the time when the coinage of 9 Feb. 1793 3 2. gold and silver, agreeably to the act, entitled "An act establishing a mint, and regulating the coins of the United States," shall commence at the mint of the United States, When foreign (which time shall be announced by the proclamation of the president of the United be a tender. States), all foreign gold coins, and all foreign silver coins, except Spanish milled dollars and parts of such dollars, shall cease to be a legal tender, as aforesaid. (c) Ibid. 23. 21. All foreign gold and silver coins, (except Spanish milled dollars, and parts of such dollars), which shall be received in payment for moneys due to the United States, after To be recoined. the said time, when the coining of gold and silver coins shall begin at the mint of the United States, shall, previously to their being issued in circulation, be coined anew, in conformity to the act, entitled "An act establishing a mint and regulating the coins of the United States." 22. All foreign coins and currencies shall be estimated at the following rates: [each 2 March 1799 3 61. pound sterling of Great Britain, at four dollars and forty-four cents;] (d) each livre 1 Stat. 673. Estimation of currencies. 2 March 1799. tournois of France, at eighteen and a half cents; each florin or guilder of the United Netherlands, at forty cents; [each mark banco of Hamburg, at thirty-three and one foreign coins and third cents;] (a) each rix dollar of Denmark, (b) at one hundred cents; each rial of plate and each rial of vellon of Spain, the former at ten cents, the latter at five cents each; [each milree of Portugal, at one dollar and twenty-four cents;] (c) each pound sterling of Ireland, at four dollars and ten cents; each tale of China, at one dollar and forty-eight cents; each pagoda (d) of India, at one dollar and ninety-four cents; each rupee (€) of Bengal, at fifty-five cents and one-half; and all other denominations of money, in value, as nearly as may be to the said rates, or the intrinsic value thereof, compared with money of the United States: Provided, That it shall be lawful for the president of the United States, to cause to be established fit and proper regulations for estimating the duties on goods, wares and merchandise imported into the United States, in respect to which the original cost shall be exhibited in a depreciated currency, issued and circulated under authority of any foreign government. Powers of the president. Ibid. 274. In what foreign coin duties may be paid. 3 March 1801 21. 2 Stat. 121. Coins of India, how estimated. 10 April 1806 2 1. silver coin to be rates. 23. All duties and fees to be collected shall be payable in money of the United States, or in foreign gold and silver coins, at the following rates, (g) that is to say: the gold coins of Great Britain and Portugal, of the standard prior to the year 1792, at the rate of one hundred cents for every twenty-seven grains of the actual weight thereof; the gold coins of France, Spain and the dominions of Spain, of the standard prior to the year 1792, at the rate of one hundred cents for every twenty-seven grains and two-fifths of a grain of the actual weight thereof; Spanish milled dollars, at the rate of one hundred cents for each dollar, the actual weight whereof shall not be less than seventeen pennyweights and seven grains, and in proportion for the parts of a dollar; crowns of France, at the rate of one hundred and ten cents for each crown, the actual weight whereof shall not be less than eighteen pennyweights and seventeen grains, and in proportion for the parts of a crown: Provided, That no foreign coins shall be receivable which are not by law a tender for the payment of all debts, except in consequence of a proclamation of the president of the United States authorizing such foreign coins to be received in payment of the duties and fees aforesaid. 24. The foreign coins and currencies hereinafter mentioned shall be estimated, in the computation of duties, at the following rates: each sicca rupee of Bengal and each rupee of Bombay, at fifty cents; (h) and each star pagoda of Madras, at one hundred and eighty-four cents; anything in any former act to the contrary notwithstanding. 25. Foreign gold and silver coins shall pass current as money within the United States, 2 Stat. 374. and be a legal tender for the payment of all debts and demands, at the several and Foreign gold and respective rates following, and not otherwise, viz.: (i) The gold coins of Great Britain current at certain and Portugal of their present standard, at the rate of one hundred cents for every twenty-seven grains of the actual weight thereof; the gold coins of France, Spain, and the dominions of Spain, of their present standard, at the rate of one hundred cents for every twenty-seven grains and two-fifths of a grain, of the actual weight thereof. Spanish milled dollars, at the rate of one hundred cents for each, the actual weight whereof shall not be less than seventeen pennyweights and seven grains, and in proportion for the parts of a dollar.(k) Crowns of France, at the rate of one hundred and ten cents for each crown, the actual weight whereof shall not be less than eighteen pennyweights and seventeen grains, and in proportion for the parts of a crown. And it shall be the duty of the secretary of the treasury, to cause assays of the foreign gold and silver coins made current by this act, to be had at the mint of the United States, at least once in every year, and to make report of the result thereof to congress, for the purpose of enabling them to make such alterations in this act as may become requisite, from the real standard value of such foreign coins. And it shall be the duty of the secretary of the treasury, to cause assays of the foreign gold and silver coins of the description made current by this act, which shall issue subse quently to the passage of this act, and shall circulate in the United States, at the mint aforesaid, at least once in every year, and to make report of the result thereof to congress, for the purpose of enabling congress to make such coins current, if they shall deem the same to be proper, at their real standard value. Annual assay and report. Ibil. 2. Repeal and sus 26. The first section of the act entitled "An act regulating foreign coins, and for other purposes," passed the 9th day of February 1793, be, and the same is hereby repealed. pension of act of And the operation of the second section of the same act shall be, and is hereby suspended for, and during the space of three years from the passage of this act. 1793. (a) See infra, 37. (b) See infra, 38. (c) See infra, 37. (d) See infra, 24. (e) See infra, 24, 37. This act was intended to fix the value of foreign coins, only for the purpose of ascertaining the amount of duties. Phillips v. Insurance Co. of Pennsylvani: Hall's Journal of Jurisprudence 250, 253. (9) By act 31 August 1852 3 2, it is provided that no gold or silver coin other than coin of standard fineness of the United States, or foreign coin, in the manner prescribed by existing laws shall be receivable in payment of dues to the United States. 16 Stat. 98. (h) See infra, 37. (i) See infra, 27, 31, 33, 34, 35. 3 Stat. 779. coins receivable 27. The following gold coins shall be received in all payments on account of public 3 March 1823 § 1 lands, at the several and respective rates following, and not otherwise, viz.: the gold coins of Great Britain and Portugal, of their present standard, at the rate of one hundred What foreign cents for every twenty seven grains, or eighty-eight cents and eight-ninths per penny- in payment for weight: the gold coins of France, of their present standard, at the rate of one hundred lands. cents for every twenty-seven and a half grains, or eighty-seven and a quarter cents per pennyweight: and the gold coins of Spain of their present standard, at the rate of one hundred cents for every twenty-eight and a half grains, or eighty-four cents per pennyweight. (a) 28. It shall be the duty of the secretary of the treasury to cause assays of the foregoing coins to be made at the mint of the United States, at least once in every year; and to make report of the result thereof to congress. Ibid. 2 2. Annual assay and report. 4 Stat. 681. silver coins to b 29. The following silver coins shall be of the legal value, and shall pass current as 25 June 1834 1 money within the United States, by tale, for the payment of all debts and demands, at the rate of one hundred cents the dollar, that is to say, the dollars of Mexico, Peru, Chili What foreign and Central America, of not less weight than four hundred and fifteen grains each, and current. those restamped in Brazil of the like weight, of not less fineness than ten ounces fifteen pennyweights of pure silver, in the troy pound of twelve ounces of standard silver: and the five franc pieces of France, when of not less fineness than ten ounces and sixteen pennyweights in twelve ounces troy weight of standard silver, and weighing not less than three hundred and eighty-four grains each at the rate of ninety-three cents each. Ibid. 2. 30. It shall be the duty of the secretary of the treasury to cause assays of the aforesaid silver coins, made current by this act, to be had at the mint of the United States at least Annual assay once in every year, and to make report of the result thereof to congress. and report. 4 Stat. 700. gold coins to be 81. The following gold coins shall pass as current as money within the United States, 28 June 1834 ₹ 1 and be receivable in all payments, by weight, for the payment of all debts and demands, at the rates following, that is to say: the gold coins of Great Britain, Portugal, and What foreign Brazil, of not less than twenty-two carats fine, at the rate of ninety-four cents and current. eight-tenths of a cent per penny-weight; the gold coins of France nine-tenths fine, at the rate of ninety-three cents and one-tenth of a cent per pennyweight; and the gold coins of Spain, Mexico and Colombia, of the fineness of twenty carats three grains and seven-sixteenths of a grain, at the rate of eighty-nine cents and nine-tenths of a cent per pennyweight. Ibid. 2. Annual assay and report. 5 Stat. 496. the pound ster 32. It shall be the duty of the secretary of the treasury to cause assays of the aforesaid gold coins, made current by this act, to be had at the mint of the United States, at least once in every year, and to make a report of the result thereof to congress. 33. In all payments by or to the treasury, whether made here or in foreign countries, 27 July 1842 z. where it becomes necessary to compute the value of the pound sterling, it shall be deemed equal to four dollars and eighty-four cents, and the same rule shall be applied Computation of in appraising merchandise imported where the value is by the invoice in pounds sterling. ling. 34. The following foreign gold coins shall pass current as money within the United 3 March 1843 2 1. States, and be receivable, by weight, for the payment of all debts and demands, at the rates following, that is to say: the gold coins of Great Britain, of not less than nine Certain gold coin. to be current by hundred and fifteen and a half thousandths in fineness, at ninety-four cents and six- weight. tenths of a cent per pennyweight; and the gold coins of France, of not less than eight hundred and ninety-nine thousandths in fineness, at ninety-two cents and nine-tenths of a cent per pennyweight. 5 Stat. 607. rent. Ibid. 22. 35. The following foreign silver coins shall pass current as money within the United States, and be receivable by tale, for the payment of all debts and demands, at the rates Certain silver following, that is to say: the Spanish pillar dollars, and the dollars of Mexico, Peru coins to be cur and Bolivia, of not less than eight hundred and ninety-seven thousandths in fineness, and four hundred and fifteen grains in weight, at one hundred cents each; and the five franc pieces of France, of not less than nine hundred thousandths in fineness, and three hundred and eighty-four grains in weight, at ninety-three cents each. Ibid. 3. 36. It shall be the duty of the secretary of the treasury to cause assays of the coins made current by this act to be had at the mint of the United States, at least once in every Annual assay year, and to make report of the result thereof to congress. and report. 5 Stat. 625. certain foreign 37. In all computations of the value of foreign moneys of account at the custom houses 3 March 1843 3 1 of the United States, the thaler of Prussia shall be deemed and taken to be of the value of sixty-eight and one half cents; the mil-reis of Portugal shall be deemed and taken to Computations of be of the value of one hundred and twelve cents; the rix-dollar of Bremen shall be moneys at the deemed and taken to be of the value of seventy-eight and three-quarter cents; the thaler custom houses of Bremen, of seventy-two grotes, shall be deemed and taken to be of the value of seventyone cents; that te mil-reis of Madeira shall be deemed and taken to be of the value of (a) See infra, 31. |