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COIN-Legislative Summary -Continued.

The act of February 21, 1853, reduced the weight of fractional silver coins to 384 grains standard and 345.6 grains pure silver, and stopped the coinage of fractional silver for private individuals, the Director of the Mint being authorized to purchase the bullion required for such coinage. The same act authorized the coinage of the three-dollar gold piece.

The act of March 3, 1853, increased the weight and fineness of the three-cent silver coins to the standard of other fractional silver coins, making it 11.52 grains standard and 10.368 grains pure.

The act of March 3, 1865, authorized the motto, "In God we trust," to be placed upon coins.

The act of February 12, 1873, which made the Mint a bureau of the Treasury Department and created the office of Director of the Mint, dropped the silver dollar, half dime and three-cent piece from the list of coins, and authorized the coinage of tae trade-dollar of 420 grains standard and 378 grains pure. The weight of frac tional silver coins was increased to 25 grams, or 385.8 grains standard to the dollar, or 347.22 grains pure.

The act of March 3, 1875, authorized the coinage of a twenty-cent silver piece of the same relative weight and fineness as the other fractional silver coins.

On July 22, 1876, a joint resolution was adopted by Congress depriving the trade-dollar of its legal-tender quality.

The act of February 28, 1878, restored the silver dollar of 4121⁄2 grains standard, 3714 grains pure, to the list of coins; made it fuil legal tender, and authorized the purchase of from $2,000,000 to $4,000,000 worth of silver bullion monthly for coinage into silver dollars. This act was vetoed by President Hayes and passed over bis veto.

The act of May 2, 1878, stopped the coinage of the twenty-cent silver piece.

The act of June 9, 1879, made all fractional silver coins a legal tender to the amount of ten dollars.

The act of March 3, 1887, authorized the redemption of trade dollars and directed that their coinage should cease.

The act of July 14, 1890, amended the act of February 28, 1878, and directed that silver bullion to the amount of 4,500,000 ounces should be purchased each month, and Treasury notes be issued therefor. The coinage of silver dollars was to cease after July 1,

COIN-Continued.

1891. except as shall be necessary to provide for the redemption of the Treasury notes.

The act of September 26, 1892, stopped the coinage of the onedollar and three-dollar gold pieces.

The act of August 5, 1892, authorized the coinage of silver half dollars of the legal weight and fineness, not to exceed $2,500 000, to be known as Columbian half dollars, and to be paid to the World's Columbian Exposition. A special issue of Columbian quarter dol lars was also authorized. These coins are legal tender to the amount of ten dollars.

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All gold coins of the United States are worth their face value in pure gold. The alloy is never reckoned.

DOUBLE EAGLE.

Authorized to be coined, act of March 3, 1849.

Weight, 516 grains; fineness, .900.

Total amount coined to June 30, 1896.

EAGLE.

Authorized to be coined, act of April 2, 1792.

Weight, 270 grains; fineness, .916 2-3.

Weight changed, act of June 28, 1834, to 258 grains.
Fineness changed, act of June 28, 1834, to .899,225.
Fineness changed, act of January 18, 1837, to .900.
Total amount coined to June 30, 1896.

HALF EAGLE.

Authorized to be coined, act of April 2, 1792.

Weight, 135 grains; fineness, .916 2-3.

Weight changed, act of June 28, 1834, to 129 grains.
Finenes changed, act of June 28, 1834, to .899,225.

$1,277,693,220

266,538,270

$220,631,035

COIN OF U. S.-Continued.

Fineness changed, act of January 18, 1837, to .900.
Total amount coined to June 30, 1896...

QUARTER EAGLE.

Authorized to be coined, act of April 2, 1792.

Weight, 67.5 grains; fineness, .916 2-3.

Weight changed, act of June 28, 1834, to 64.5 grains.
Fineness changed, act of June 28, 1834, to .899,225 grains.
Fineness changed, act of January 18, 1837, to .900.
Total amount coined to June 30, 1896...

THREE-DOLLAR PIECE.

Authorized to be coined, act of February 21, 1853.
Weight, 77.4 grains; fineness, ,900.

Total amount coined to September 26, 1890....
Coinage discontinued, act of September 26, 1890.

ONE DOLLAR.

Authorized to be coined, act of March 3, 1849.
Weight, 25.8 grains; fineness, .900.

28,711,015

1,619,376

Total amount coined to September 26, 1890.....
Coinage discontinued, act of September 26, 1890.

19,499,337

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Authorized to be coined, act of April 2, 1792.

Weight, 416 grains; fineness, .892,4.

Weight changed, act of January 18, 1837, to 4121⁄2 grains.

Fineness changed, act of January 18, 1837, to .900.

Coinage discontinued, act of February 12, 1873.

COIN OF U. S.-Continued.

Total amount coined to February 12, 1873, $8,031,238.

Coinage reauthorized, act of February 28, 1878.

Amount coined from March 1, 1878, to June 30, 1896, $430,790,041. Total amount coined to June 30, 1896.

TRADE DOLLAR.

Authorized to be coined, act of February 12, 1873.

Weight, 420 grains; fineness, .900.

$438,821,279.00

Coinage limited to export demand, joint resolution July 22, 1876. Coinage discontinued, act of March 3, 1887.

Total amount coined....

HALF DOLLAR.

Authorized to be coined, act of April 2, 1792.

Weight, 208 grains; fineness, .892,4.

35,965,924.00

Weight changed, act of January 18, 1837, to 2064 grains.
Fineness changed, act of January 18, 1837, to .900.

Weight changed, act of February 21, 1853, to 192 grains. Weight changed, act of February 12, 1873, to 121⁄2 grams, or 192,3 grains.

Total amount coined to June 30, 1896.

....

COLUMBIAN HALF DOLLAR.

Authorized to be coined, act of August 5, 1892.
Weight, 192.9 grains; fineness, .900.

.... 132,662,308.00

Total amount coined

.....

QUARTER DOLLAR.

.2,501,052.50

Authorized to be coined, act of April 2, 1792.

Weight, 104 grains; fineness, .892,4.

Weight changed, act of January 18, 1837, to 103% grains.

Fineness changed, act of January 18, 1837, to .900.

Weight changed, act of February 21, 1853, to 96 grains.

Weight changed, act of February 12, 1873, to 64 grams, or 96.45 grains.

Total amount coined to June 30, 1896.

COLUMBIAN QUARTER DOLLAR.

Authorized to be coined, act of March 3, 1893.

Weight, 96.45 grains; fineness, .900.

.51,166,166.75

Total amount coined....

TWENTY-CENT PIECE.

Authorized to be coined, act of March 3, 1875.
Weight, 5 grams, or 77.16 grains; fineness, .900.
Coinage discontinued, act of May 2, 1878.
Total amount coined.....

..10,005.75

271,000.00

COIN OF U. S.-Continued.

DIME.

Authorized to be coined, act of April 2, 1792.

Weight, 41.6 grains; fineness, .892,4.

Weight changed, act of January 18, 1837, to 414 grains.

Fineness changed, act of January 18, 1837, to .900.

Weight changed, act of February 21, 1853, to 38.4 grains.

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Weight changed, act of February 12, 1873, to 22 grams, or 38.58 grains.

Total amount coined to June 30, 1896....

HALF DIME.

Authorized to be coined, act of April 2, 1792.

Weight, 20.8 grains; fineness, .892,4.

$28,904,300.50

Weight changed, act of January 18, 1837, to 20% grains.

Fineness changed, act of January 18, 1837, to .900.

Weight changed, act of February 21, 1853, to 19.2 grains.

Coinage discontinued, act of February, 12, 1873.

Total amount coined.....

THREE-CENT PIECE.

Authorized to be coined, act of March 3, 1851.

Weight, 12% grains; fineness, .750.

Weight changed, act of March 3, 1853, to 11.52 grains.

Fineness changed, act of March 3, 1853, to .900.

Coinage discontinued, act of February 12, 1873.
Total amount coired.....

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4,880,219.40

.1,282,087.20

696,464,343.10

Amount for which

Deviation allowed in

a legal tender.

coinage.

Grains.

Twenty-five cents..

Twenty-five cents..
Twenty-five cents..
Twenty-five cents..

4

Not a legal tender...

FIVE CENT (NICKEL).

Authorized to be coined, act of May 16, 1866.

Weight, 77.16 grains; composed of 75 per cent. copper and 25 per cent. nickel.

Total amount coined to June 30, 1896..

.$14,292,235.30

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