of pure, or two hundred and eight grains of ftandard filver. QUARTER DOLLARS: each to be of one fourth the value of the dollar or unit, and to contain ninety two grains and thirteen fixteenth parts of a grain of pure, or one hundred and four grains of ftandard filver. DISMES: each to be of the value of one tenth of a dollar or unit, and to contain thirty seven grains and two fixteenth parts of a grain of pure, or forty one grains and three fifth parts of a grain of standard filver. HALF DISMES: each to be of the value of one twentieth of a dollar, and to contain eighteen grains and nine fixteenth parts of a grain of pure, or twenty grains and four fifth parts of a grain of ftandard filver. CENTS: each to be of the value of the one hundredth part of a dollar, and to contain eleven penny-weights of copper. HALF CENTS each to be of the value of half a cent, and to contain five penny weights and half a penny weight of copper.

Sec. 10. And be it further enacted, That up- of what on the faid coins refpectively there fhall be the devices. following devices and legends namely: Upon one fide of each of the faid coins there shall be an impreffion emblematic of liberty, with an infcription of the word Liberty, and the year of the coinage; and upon the reverse of each of the gold and filver coins there shall be the figure or reprefentation of an eagle, with this infcription, "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,' and upon the reverse of each of the copper coins, there fhall be an inscription which shall exprefs the denomination of the piece, namely, cent or half cent, as the cafe may require.

Sec. 11. And be it further enacted, That the Proporproportional value of gold to filver in all coins of gold to which fhall by law be current as money within silver. VOL. II.

F

Standard for gold

coins and alloy how

to be regu

iated.

the United States, fhall be as fifteen to one, according to quantity in weight, of pure gold or pure filver; that is to fay, every fifteen pounds weight of pure filver fhall be of equal value in all payments, with one pound weight of pure gold, and fo in proportion as to any greater or leis quantities of the refpective me

tals.

Sec. 12. And be it further enacted, That the ftandard for all gold coins of the United States, fhall be eleven parts fine to one part alloy; and accordingly that eleven parts in twelve of the entire weight of each of the faid coins fhall confift of pure gold, and the remaining one twelfth part of alloy; and the faid alloy fhall be compofed of filver and copper, in fuch proportions not exceeding one half filver as shall be found convenient; to be regulated by the Director of the mint, for the time being, with the approbation of the Prefident of the United States, until further provifion fhall be made by law. And to the end that the neceffary information may be had in order to the making of fuch further provifion, it fhall be the duty Director's of the Director of the mint, at the expiration of a year after commencing the operations of the faid mint, to report to Congress the practice thereof during the faid year, touching the compofition of the alloy of the faid gold coins, the reafons for fuch practice, and the experiments and obfervations which fhall have been made concerning the effects of different proportions of filver and copper in the faid alloy.

duty.

Standard for filver

coins; al

Sec. 13. And be it further enacted, That the ftandard for all filver coins of the United States, Jay how to fhall be one thoufand four hundred and eighty be regulated. parts fine to one hundred and feventy nine

five

parts alloy; and accordingly that one thoufand four hundred and eighty five parts in one thousand fix hundred and fixty four parts of the entire weight of each of the faid coins fhail confift of pure filver, and the remaining one hundred and feventy nine parts of alloy; which alloy fhall be wholly of copper.

gold and

coined free

Sec. 14. And be it further enacted, That it Perfons fhall be lawful for any perfon or perfons to may bring bring to the faid mint gold and filver bullion, fiver batin order to their being coined; and that the lion, to he bullion fo brought fhall be there affayed and of expeace. coined as fpeedily as may be after the receipt thereof, and that free of expence to the perfon or perfons by whom the fame fhall have been brought. And as foon as the faid bullion fhall have been coined, the perfon or perfons by whom the fame fhall have been delivered, fhall upon demand receive in lieu thereof coins of the fame fpecies of bullion which shall have been fo delivered, weight for weight, of the pure gold or pure filver therein contained.: Provided nevertheless, That it fhall be at the mutual option of the party or parties bring. ing fuch bullion, and of the director of the faid how the dimint, to make an immediate exchange of coins rector may for ftandard bullion, with a deduction of one exchange half per cent from the weight of the pure gold, for, deducor pure filver contained in the faid bullion, as ting half an indemnification to the mint for the time

coins there

per cent.

which will neceffarily be required for coining the faid bullion, and for the advance which fhall have been fo made in coins. And it shall be the duty of the Secretary of the Treafury duty of 3eto furnish the faid mint from time to time when cretary of treasury ever the state of the treafury will admit thereof, herein with fuch fums as may be neceflary for effecting the faid exchanges, to be replaced as fpee

dily as may be out of the coins which fhall have been made of the bullion for which the

monies fo furnished shall have been exchanged; the half per and the said deduction of one half per cent fhall cent to con- conftitute a fund towards defraying the expenfes of the faid mint.

ftitute a fund, &c.

Order of

coins to

bringing bullion and penalty on giving undue prefer

ence, &c.

Sec. 15. And be it further enacted, That the delivering bullion which fhall be brought as aforefaid to perfons the mint to be coined, fhall be coined, and the equivalent thereof in coins rendered, if demanded, in the order in which the faid bullion fhall have been brought or delivered, giving priority according to priority of delivery only, and without preference to any perfon or perfons; and if any preference fhall be given contrary to the direction aforefaid, the officer by whom fuch undue preference fhall be given, fhall in each cafe forfeit and pay one thoufand dollars; to be recovered with cofts of fuit. And to the end that it may be known if fuch preference fhall at any time be given, the affayer or officer to whom the faid bullion fhall be delivered to be coined, fhall give to the perfon or perfons bringing the fame, a memorandum in writing under his hand, denoting the weight, finenefs and value thereof, together with the day and order of its delivery into the mint.

Coins made a lawful tender.

Sec. 16. And be it further enacted, That all the gold and filver coins which shall have been ftruck at, and iffued from the faid mint, fhall be a lawful tender in all payments whatfoever, thofe of full weight according to the refpective alues herein before declared, and thofe of lefs than full weight at valucs proportional to their refpective weights.

Sec. 17. And be it further enacted, That it

and to be

to the

fhall be the duty of the refpective officers of the faid mint, carefully and faithfully to ufe made contheir best endeavours that all the gold and fil- formable ver coins which thall be ftruck at the faid mint ftandard fhall be, as nearly as may be, conformable to weights, the feveral standards and weights aforefaid, and that the copper whereof the cents and half cents aforefaid may be compofed, fhall be of good quality.

&c.

ferve not

each coin

ed.

&c.

Sec. 18. And the better to fecure a due con- The treaformity of the faid gold and filver coins to their furer to rerespective standards, Be it further enacted, That less than from every feparate mafs of ftandard gold or pieces of filver, which fhall be made into coins at the to be aflayfaid mint, there fhall be taken, set apart by the Treasurer and referved in his cuftody a certain number of pieces, not less than three, and that once in every year the pieces fo fet apart and referved, fhall be affayed under the infpection of the Chief Juftice of the United States, when and the Secretary and Comptroller of the Treafury, by whom, the Secretary for the Department of State, and the Attorney General of the United States (who are hereby required to attend for that purpose at the faid mint, on the laft Monday in July in each year) or under the infpection of any three of them, in fuch manner as they or a majority of them fhall direct, and in the prefence of the director, affayer and chief coiner of the faid mint; and if it fhall be found that the gold and filver fo affayed, fhall not be inferior to their respective standards herein before declared more than one part in one hundred and forty four parts, the officer or officers of the faid mint whom it may concern fhall be held excufable; but if any greater inferiority fhall appear, it fhall be certified to the Prefident of the United States, and the faid officer