Disposition of clippings, &c. Treasurer's account with chief coiner. director,) which shall be carefully labelled, and deposited in a chest appropriated for the purpose, kept under the joint care of the treasurer and assayer, and so secured that neither can have access to its contents without the presence of the other. SEC. 28. That the chief coiner shall, from time to time, deliver to the treasurer the clippings and other portions of bullion remaining after the process of coining, and that the treasurer shall keep a careful record of their amount. SEC. 29. That in the treasurer's account with the chief coiner, the chief coiner shall be debited with the amount in weight of standard metal of all the bullion placed in his hands, and credited with the amount, also by weight, of all the coins, clippings, and other bullion delivered by him to the treasurer; and that once at least in every year, at such time as the director shall appoint, the chief coiner shall deliver to the treasurer all the coins and bullion in his possession, so that his accounts may be settled up to that time; and, in this settlement, he shall be entitled to a credit for the difference between the whole amount of the ingots delivered to necessary waste. him, and of the coins and bullion received from him, since the last-settlement, as an allowance for necessary waste: Provided, That this allowance shall not exceed two thousandths of the whole amount of the silver, or one and one half thousandth of the whole amount of the gold, that had been delivered to him by the treasurer. Allowance for Proviso. Payment for bullion deposited to be coined. Deposit of public money to be kept in the mint by Secretary of Treasury. 1850, ch. 12. Annual trial of coins. 3, 1823, ch. 42, § 2, repealed. SEC. 30. That when the coins which are the equivalent to any deposite of bullion are ready for delivery, they shall be paid over to the depositor, or his order, by the treasurer, on a warrant from the director; and the payment shall be made, if demanded, in the order in which the bullion shall have been brought to the mint, giving priority according to priority of deposite only; and that in the denominations of coin delivered, the treasurer shall comply with the wishes of the depositor, unless when impracticable or inconvenient to do so; in which case, the denominations of coin shall be designated by the director. SEC. 31. That for the purpose of enabling the mint to make returns to depositors with as little delay as possible, it shall be the duty of the Secretary of the Treasury to keep in the said mint, when the state of the treasury will admit thereof, a deposite of such amount of public money, or of bullion procured for the purpose, as he shall judge convenient and necessary, not exceeding one million of dollars, out of which those who bring bullion to the mint may be paid the value thereof, as soon as practicable, after this value has been ascertained; that the bullion so deposited shall become the property of the United States; that no discount or interest shall be charged on moneys so advanced; and that the Secretary of the Treasury may at any time withdraw the said deposite, or any part thereof, or may, at his discretion, allow the coins formed at the mint to be given for their equivalent in other money. SEC. 32. That to secure a due conformity in the gold and silver coins to their respective standards and weights, an annual trial shall be made of the pieces reserved for this purpose at the mint and its branches, before Act of March the judge of the district court of the United States, for the eastern district of Pennsylvania, the attorney of the United States, for the eastern district of Pennsylvania, and the collector of the port of Philadelphia, and such other persons as the President shall, from time to time, designate for that purpose, who shall meet as commissioners, for the performance of this duty, on the second Monday in February, annually, and may continue their meetings by adjournment, if necessary; and if a majority of the commissioners shall fail to attend at any time appointed for their meeting, then the director of the mint shall call a meeting of the commissioners at such other time as he may deem convenient; and that before these commissioners, or a majority of them, and in the presence of the officers of the mint, such examination shall be made of the reserved pieces as shall be judged sufficient; and if it shall appear that these pieces do not differ from the standard fineness and weight by a greater quantity than is allowed by law, the trial shall be considered and reported as satisfactory; but if any greater deviation from the legal standard or weight shall appear, this fact shall be certified to the President of the United States, and if, on a view of the circumstances of the case, he shall so decide, the officer or officers implicated in the error shall be thenceforward disqualified from holding their respective offices. SEC. 33. That copper bullion shall be purchased for the mint, from time to time, by the treasurer, under instructions from the director; that copper bullion. the cost shall be paid from the fund hereinafter provided for; and that the copper bullion shall be of good quality, and in form of planchets fit for passing at once into the hands of the chief coiner. Purchase of SEC. 34. That the copper planchets shall be delivered, from time to time, by the treasurer to the chief coiner, to be by him coined; and all copper. such copper shall be returned to the treasurer, by the chief coiner, weight for weight, without allowance for waste. Coinage of changed for other money. SEC. 35. That it shall be the duty of the treasurer of the mint to de- Copper coins liver the copper coins, in exchange for their legal equivalent in other may be exmoney, to any persons who shall apply for them; Provided, That the sum asked for be not less than a certain amount, to be determined by the director, and that it be not so great as, in his judgment, to interfere with the capacity of the mint to supply other applicants. SEC. 36. That the copper coins may, at the discretion of the director, be delivered in any of the principal cities and towns of the United States, at the cost of the mint for transportation. SEC. 37. That the money received by the treasurer in exchange for copper coins shall form a fund in his hands, which shall be used to purchase copper planchets, and to pay the expense of transportation of copper coins; and that if there be a surplus, the same shall be appropriated to defray the contingent expenses of the mint. Proviso. Copper coins transported at expense of the mint. Disposition of money received in exchange for copper coins. Former acts SEC. 38. That all acts or parts of acts heretofore passed, relating to the mint and coins of the United States, which are inconsistent with the repealed. provisions of this act, be, and the same are hereby repealed. Stat. at Large, CHAP. XIV. — An Act to amend an Act, entitled "An Act to establish Branches of the Mint of the United States," passed the third day of March, one thousand eight hundred Vol. V. p. 147. and thirty-five. Be it enacted, &c. That the officers of the branch mint at New Orleans shall be one superintendent, one treasurer, one assayer, one melter and refiner, and one coiner; and that the officers of the branch mints, at Charlotte and Dahlonega, severally, shall be one superintendent, who shall also perform the duties of treasurer; one assayer, who shall also perform the duties of melter and refiner; and one coiner; and the annual salaries of the said officers shall be as follows: for the branch at New Orleans, to the superintendent, two thousand five hundred dollars; to the treasurer, the assayer, the melter and refiner, and the coiner, each, two thousand dollars; for the branches at Charlotte and at Dahlonega, to the superintendent, two thousand dollars; and to the assayer and the coiner, each, fifteen hundred dollars. Act of March 3, 1835, ch. 37. Officers of branch mints at Their salaries. Part of act 3d SEC. 2. That so much of the act entitled "An act, to establish branches of the mint of the United States," approved the third day of March, one March, 1835, ch. 37, repealed. thousand eight hundred and thirty-five, as is inconsistent with the provisions of this act, be, and the same is, hereby repealed. 13, 1835, ch. 14. er and refiner Stat. at Large, CHAP. XLVI. - An Act amendatory of an Act establishing the Branch Mint at Vol. V. p. 602. Dahlonega, Georgia, and defining the duties of Assayer and Coiner. Act of March Be it enacted, &c. That an act passed the thirteenth day of February, Duties of melt- one thousand eight hundred and thirty-seven, to amend an act entitled "An act to establish branches of the mint of the United States," passed transferred from the third day of March, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-five, be, the coiner in the and it is hereby, altered and amended so as to transfer the duties of branch mints at melter and refiner from the assayer to the coiner at the branches of DahDahlonega and lonega in Georgia, and of Charlotte in North Carolina, respectively, and Charlotte. that all laws and parts of laws conflicting with this act be, and they are hereby, repealed. the assayer to Stat. at Large, CHAP. VII. · An Act to amend the Act entitled "An Act to establish Branches of the Vol. V. p. 652. Mint of the United States." How oath required by 3d section, act of 3d March, 1835, may be taken. Ante, p. 731. [SEC. 1.] Be it enacted, &c. That the oath or affirmation required by the third section of an act passed March third, eighteen hundred and thirtyfive, entitled "An act to establish branches of the mint of the United States," may be taken before any judge of the superior court, or of any court of record, in the State where the branch of which the person taking said oath is an officer or clerk, is situated. Stat. at Large, Vol. IX. p. 397. Double Eagle and Gold Dollar authorized. A legal tender. Laws as to coinage applicable. Deviations of weight allowed in gold coins. CHAP. CIX. — An Act to authorize the Coinage of Gold Dollars and Double Eagles. Be it enacted, &c. That 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 values, 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. SEC. 2. That 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. SEC. 3. That all laws now in force in relation to the coins of the United States, and the striking and coining of the same, shall, so far as applicable, have full force and effect in relation to 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. SEC. 4. That 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 quartereagles; and one half pennyweight in one thousand gold dollars. No. 15. - MAY 23, 1850. Stat. at Large, CHAP. XII. - An Act supplementary to the Act entitled “An Act supplementary to the 1837, ch. 3. Ante, p. 372. To enable the mint and branch Be it enacted, &c. That, for the purpose of enabling the mint and branch mints of the United States to make returns to depositors with as little delay as possible, it shall be lawful for the President of the United mints to make returns to deposStates, when the state of the treasury shall admit thereof, to direct trans- itors, &c. the fers to be made from time to time to the mint and branch mints for such President is authorized to direct sums of public money as he shall judge convenient and necessary, out of transfers of pubwhich those who bring bullion to the mint may be paid the value thereof, lic money. as soon as practicable after this value has been ascertained; that the bullion so deposited shall become the property of the United States; that no discount or interest shall be charged on moneys so advanced; and that the Secretary of the Treasury may at any time withdraw the said deposite, or any part thereof, or may, at his discretion, allow the coins formed at the mint to be given for their equivalent in other money: Provided, That the bonds given by the United States treasurers and superintendents of the mint shall be renewed or increased at the discretion of the Secretary of the Treasury, under the operation of this act. CHAP. XC. Proviso. An Act making Appropriations for the Civil and Diplomatic Expenses of Stat. at Large, Government for the Year ending the thirtieth of June, eighteen hundred and fifty-one, and Vol. IX. p. 523. for other Purposes. Be it enacted, &c. That the following sums be, and hereby are appropriated, &c. **** Mint of the United States. At New Orleans. For salaries of superintendent, treasurer, assayer, coiner, melter and refiner, and clerks, seventeen thousand three hundred dollars, the salary of the treasurer being hereby increased from first July, eighteen hundred and fifty, to four thousand dollars; the salary of chief clerk to eighteen hundred dollars; of the other clerk to fifteen hundred dollars; and the employment of an additional clerk at fifteen hundred dollars, is hereby authorized. 9 Stat. p. 531. An Act to reduce and modify the Rates of Postage in the United States, Stat. at Large, Vol. IX. p. 587. New coin of Device. SEC. 11. That from and after the passage of this act, it shall be lawful to coin at the mint of the United States and its branches, a piece of the value of 3 cents. denomination and legal value of three cents, or three hundredths of a dol- See 1853, ch. 96, 7, post, No. lar, to be composed of [three fourths silver and one fourth copper, and to weigh 22. twelve grains and three eighths of a grain;] that the said coin shall bear such Weight. 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 that it shall be a legal ten- Made a tender. der 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 that, in adjusting the weight of the said coin, the following deviations from the standard weight shall not be exceeded, namely, one half of a grain in the single piece, and one pennyweight in a thousand pieces. Weight. Stat. at Large, [Joint Resolution No. 5.] A Resolution changing the Mode of appointing Clerks of the Vol. IX. p. 647. Treasurers of the Mints of the United States. Preamble. Treasurers of the mint to have the appointment of their own clerks, subject WHEREAS, by existing laws, the treasurers of the United States mint are required to give bond in heavy penalties for the faithful performance of their duties, and of those under them; and whereas, it is but just the selection of their clerks should be under their control; therefore, Resolved, &c. That so much of the second section of the act, approved March third, eighteen hundred and thirty-five, entitled "An act to establish branches of the mint of the United States," as vests the appointment of the clerks of the treasurer in the superintendent of each mint, be, to the approval, and the same is hereby, repealed; and that the several treasurers of the of the Treasury. United States mint be, and they are hereby, authorized to appoint their 1835, ch. 39, § 2. own clerks, subject, however, to the approval of the Secretary of the Ante, p. 730. of the Secretary Treasury. No. 19. JULY 3, 1852. Stat. at Large, Vol. X. p. 11. Branch mint in California. Buildings for the mint. Officers and workmen to be appointed. Salaries and pay. Officers and clerks to make oath and give bonds. Director of the CHAP. LIV.- An Act to establish a Branch of the Mint of the United States in Be it enacted, &c. That a branch of the mint of the United States be established in California, to be located by the Secretary of the Treasury, for the coinage of gold and silver. SEC. 2. That suitable buildings shall be procured or erected, for carrying on the business of said branch mint, and the following officers shall be appointed so soon as the public interests may require their services, upon the nomination of the President, [by] and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to wit: one superintendent, one treasurer, one assayer, one melter and refiner, and one coiner. And the said superintendent shall engage and employ as many clerks, and as many subordinate workmen and servants, as shall be provided for by law; and until the thirtieth of June, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, the salaries of said officers and clerks shall be as follows: to the superintendent and to the treasurer, the sum of four thousand five hundred dollars each; to the assayer, to the melter and refiner, and to the coiner, the sum of three thousand dollars each; to the clerks, the sum of two thousand dollars each; to the subordinate workmen, such wages and allowances as are customary and reasonable, according to their respective stations and occupations. SEC. 3. That the officers and clerks to be appointed under this act, before entering upon the duties thereof, shall take an oath or affirmation before some judge of the United States, or the supreme court of the State of California, faithfully and diligently to perform the duties thereof, and shall each become bound to the United States of America, with one or more sureties, to the satisfaction of the director of the mint and the Secretary of the Treasury, or the district attorney of the United States for the State of California, with condition for the faithful and diligent performance of their offices. SEC. 4. That the general direction of the business of said branch of mint at Philadel- the mint of the United States shall be under the control and regulation phia to have of the director of the mint at Philadelphia, subject to the approbation of general control over the branch the Secretary of the Treasury; and, for that purpose, it shall be the duty in California, of the said director to prescribe such regulations, and require such returns periodically and occasionally, as shall appear to him to be necessary for the purpose of carrying into effect the intention of this act in establishing the said branch; also, for the purpose of discriminating the coin which shall be stamped at said branch and at the mint itself; and also for and to prescribe regulations. |