CHAP. [14.] An act supplemental to the act for making farther and more effec- Obsolete. tual provision for the protection of the frontiers of the United States. Vol. i. p. 399. 221, § 1. Be it enacted, &c. That it shall be lawful for the president The president of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of the may appoint senate, to appoint such number of brigadier generals as may be four brigadier conducive to the good of the public service. Provided the whole number appointed, or to be appointed, shall not exceed four. [Approved, March 28, 1792.] CHAP. [15.] An act for finishing the lighthouse on Bald Head, at the mouth of generals. Obsolete. &c. §. 1. Be it enacted, &c. That the secretary of the treasury, un- The secretary der the direction of the President of the United States, be autho- of the treasu rized, as soon as may be, to cause to be finished, in such man- Ty to cause the lighthouse on ner as shall appear adviseable, the lighthouse heretofore begun Bald Head to under the authority of the State of North Carolina, on Bald Head, be finished, at the mouth of Cape Fear river, in the said state: And that a sum, not exceeding four thousand dollars, be appropriated for 4,000 dolls. the same, out of any moneys heretofore appropriated, which may appropriated remain unexpended after satisfying the purposes for which they were appropriated, or out of any other moneys which may be in the treasury, not subject to any prior appropriation. [Approved, - April 2, 1792.] for the purpose. CHAP. [16.] An act establishing a mint, and regulating the coins of the United Vol. i. p. 207, States. of a na 282, 406, 432, § 1. Be it enacted, &c. That a mint, for the purpose tional coinage, be, and the same is, established; to be situate and 1657, 1920, carried on at the seat of the government of the United States, for 2006. the time being: And that, for the well conducting of the busi- Vol. iv. 2412, ness of the said mint, there shall be the following officers and 2534. persons, namely: a director, an assayer, a chief coiner, an engraver, a treasurer. 2415, 2522, § 2. That the director of the mint shall employ as many Director to clerks, workmen, and servants, as he shall, from time to time, find employ necessary, subject to the approbation of the president of the Uni- clerks, work ted States. men, &c. § 3. That the respective functions and duties of the officers Duties of the abovementioned shall be as follows: The director of the mint director. shall have the chief management of the business thereof, and shall superintend all other officers and persons who shall be employed therein. The assayer shall receive, and give receipts for, Duties of the all metals which may lawfully be brought to the mint to be coin- assayer. Vol. i. p. 317. ed; shall assay all such of them as may require it, and shall deliver them to the chief coiner to be coined. The chief coiner Duties of the shall cause to be coined, all metals which shall be received by chief coiner. him for that purpose, according to such regulations as shall be prescribed by this or any future law. The engraver shall sink Duties of the and prepare the necessary dies for such coinage, with the proper engraver. devices and inscriptions, but it shall be lawful for the functions and duties of chief coiner and engraver to be performed by one person. The treasurer shall receive from the chief coiner all the coins which shall have been struck, and shall pay or deliver Chief coiner and engraver may be one person. Duties of the treasurer. Officers and them to the persons, respectively, to whom the same ought to be paid or delivered: He shall, moreover, receive and safely keep all moneys which shall be for the use, maintenance, and support, of the mint, and shall disburse the same upon warrants signed by the director. § 4. That every officer and clerk of the said mint shall, beclerks to take fore he enters upon the execution of his office, take an oath or an oath, &c. affirmation, before some judge of the United States, faithfully and diligently to perform the duties thereof. Assayer, chief coiner, and treasurer, to give bond, &c. Salaries to the mint. § 5. That the said assayer, chief coiner, and treasurer, previously to entering upon the execution of their respective offices, shall each become bound to the United States of America, with with sureties, one or more sureties, to the satisfaction of the secretary of the treasury, in the sum of ten thousand dollars, with condition for the faithful and diligent performance of the duties of his office. § 6. That there shall be allowed and paid, as compensations officers of the for their respective services; to the said director, a yearly salary of two thousand dollars; to the said assayer, a yearly salary of one thousand five hundred dollars; to the said chief coiner, a yearly salary of one thousand five hundred dollars; to the said engraver, a yearly salary of one thousand two hundred dollars; to the said treasurer, a yearly salary of one thousand two hundred dollars; to each clerk who may be employed, a yearly salary not exceeding five hundred dollars; and to the several subordinate workmen and servants, such wages and allowances as are customary and reasonable, according to their respective stations and occupations. Vol. i. p. 686. Accounts of the officers, &c. of the mint, to be adjusted at &c. § 7. That the accounts of the officers, and persons employed in and about the said mint, and for services performed in relation thereto, and all other accounts concerning the business and administration thereof, shall be adjusted and settled in the treathe treasury, sury department of the United States; and a quarter yearly acQuarterly ac- count, of the receipts and disbursements of the said mint, shall count for set- be rendered at the said treasury for settlement, according to tlement, &c. such forms and regulations as shall have been prescribed by that A report to department; and that once in each year, a report of the transaccongress once tions of the said mint, accompanied by an abstract of the settlements which shall have been, from time to time, made, duly certified by the comptroller of the treasury, shall be laid before congress for their information. a year, &c. The president to cause build ings to be provided, &c. § 8. That, in addition to the authority vested in the president of the United States by a resolution of the last session, touching the engaging of artists, and the procuring of apparatus for the said mint, the president be authorized, and he is hereby authorized, to cause to be provided and put in proper condition, such buildings, and in such manner as shall appear to him requisite for the purpose of carrying on the business of the said mint; and that, as well the expenses which shall have been incurred pursuant to the said resolution, as those which may be incurred in providing and preparing the said buildings, and all other expenses which may hereafter accrue for the maintenance and support of the said mint, and in carrying on the business thereof, over and above the sums which may be received by reason of the rate per centum for coinage hereinafter mentioned, shall be defrayed from the treasury of the United States, out of any moneys which, from time to time, shall be therein, not otherwise appropriated. tions of the 9. That there shall be, from time to time, struck and coined Denomina at the said mint, coins of gold, silver, and copper, of the follow- tions, values, ing denominations, values, and descriptions, viz. Eagles: each and descrip. to be of the value of ten dollars, or units, and to contain two coins. hundred and forty-seven grains and four-eighths of a grain of Eagles. pure, or two hundred and seventy grains of standard, gold. Half eagles: each to be of the value of five dollars, and to contain one hundred and twenty-three grains and six-eighths of a grain of pure, or one hundred and thirty-five grains of standard, gold. Quarter eagles: each to be of the value of two dollars Quarter eaand a half dollar, and to contain sixty-one grains and seven- gles. eighths of a grain of pure, or sixty-seven grains and four-eighths Half eagles. of a grain of standard, gold. Dollars, or units: each to be of Dollars. the value of a Spanish milled dollar, as the same is now current, and to contain three hundred and seventy-one grains and foursixteenth parts of a grain of pure, or four hundred and sixteen grains of standard, silver. Half dollars: each to be of half the Half dollars. 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 dol- Quarter dollars each to be of one-fourth the value of the dollar, or unit, lars. 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: each to be of the value of one-tenth of a dol- Dismes. lar, 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 Hali dismes. value of one-twentieth of a dollar, and to contain 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 Cents, &c. of the value of the one-hundredth part of a dollar, and to contain Vol. i. p. 266, eleven pennyweights of copper. Half cents: each to be of the 282, 406. value of half a cent, and to contain five pennyweights and a 2524, half a pennyweight of copper. Vol. iv. p. § 10. That upon the said coins, respectively, there shall be Devices and the following devices and legends, namely: Upon one side of legends for the each of the said coins there shall be an impression emblematic coins. 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 this inscription, "United States of America :" and, upon the reverse of each of the copper coins, there shall be an inscription which shall express the denomination of the piece, namely, cent or half cent, as the case may require. to silver coins § 11. That the proportional value of gold to silver, in all Proportional coins which shall, by law, be current as money within the United value of gold States, shall be as fifteen to one, according to quantity in weight, current by of pure gold or pure silver; that is to say, every fifteen pounds law. weight of pure silver shall be of equal value, in all payments, Standard for gold coins. and copper, &c. with one pound weight of pure gold; and so in proportion, as to any greater or less quantities of the respective metals. 12. That the standard for all gold coins of the United States, shall be eleven parts fine to one part alloy; and, accordingly, that eleven parts in twelve, of the entire weight of each of the said coins, shall consist of pure gold, and the remaining Alloy, of silver one-twelfth part of alloy; and the said alloy shall be composed of silver and copper, in such proportions, not exceeding one-half silver, as shall be found convenient; to be regulated by the director of the mint, for the time being, with the approbation of the president of the United States, until further provision shall be made by law. And to the end that the necessary information of the mint to may be had in order to the making of such further provision, it report touch shall be the duty of the director of the mint, at the expiration ing the compo of a year after commencing the operations of the said mint, to report to congress the practice thereof during the said year, touching the composition of the alloy of the said gold coins, the reasons for such practice, and the experiments and observations which shall have been made concerning the effects of different proportions of silver and copper in the said alloy. The director sition of the alloy, &c. Standard for Alloy, &c. 13. That the standard for all silver coins of the United States, shall be one thousand four hundred and eighty-five parts fine to one hundred and seventy-nine parts alloy; and, accordingly, that one thousand four hundred and eighty-five parts in one thousand six hundred and sixty-four parts of the entire weight of each of the said coins, shall consist of pure silver, Alloy of silver and the remaining one hundred and seventy-nine parts of alloy; which alloy shall be wholly of copper. to be copper. Gold and sil ver bullion may be brought to the mint to be coined, &c. Vol. i. p. 406. Free of expense. § 14. That it shall be lawful for any person or persons to bring to the said mint gold and silver bullion, in order to their being coined; and that the bullion so brought shall be there assayed and coined, as speedily as may be after the receipt thereof, and that free of expense to the person or persons by whom the same shall have been brought. And as soon as the said bullion shall have been coined, the person or persons by whom the same shall have been delivered, shall, upon demand, receive in lieu thereof coins, of the same species of bullion which shall have been so delivered, weight for weight, of the pure gold or silver Coins, weight therein contained: Provided, nevertheless, That it shall be at the for weight, in lieu of bullion. mutual option of the party or parties bringing such bullion, and Vol. i. p. 770, of the director of the said mint, to make an immediate exchange Proviso; as to of coins for standard bullion, with a deduction of one half per cent. from the weight of the pure gold, or pure silver, contained in the said bullion, as an indemnification to the mint for the time which will necessarily be required for coining the said bullion, and for the advance which shall have been so made in coins. And it shall be the duty of the secretary of the treasury to furnish the said mint, from time to time, whenever the state of the treasury will admit thereof, with such sums as may be necessary for effecting the said exchanges, to be replaced as speedily as may be, out of the coins which shall have been made of the bullion for which the moneys so furnished shall have been exchanged; and the said deduction of one-half per cent. shall constitute a fund towards defraying the expenses of the said mint. immediate exchange of coins for stan dard bullion, &c. Secretary of the treasury to furnish sums to ex change for bullion, &c. Bullion to be coined, &c. in the order in brought, without preference Vol. i. p. 406. The officer giving prefer § 15. That the bullion which shall be brought as aforesaid to the mint to be coined, shall be coined, and the equivalent thereof in coins rendered, if demanded, in the order in which the said bullion shall have been brought or delivered, giving priority according to priority of delivery only, and without preference to any of persons, &c. person or persons; and if any preference shall be given contrary to the direction aforesaid, the officer, by whom such undue preference shall be given, shall, in each case, forfeit and pay one thousand dollars; to be recovered with costs of suit. And to the end that it may be known if such preference shall at any time be given, the assayer, or officer to whom the said bullion shall be delivered to be coined, shall give, to the person or persons bringing the same, a memorandum in writing, under his hand, denoting the weight, fineness, and value, thereof, together with the day and order of its delivery into the mint. ence to forfeit 1,000 dolls. Assayer, &c. to give memolivery of bullion, &c. randum of de Gold and silthe mint a legal tender, &c. ver coins of p. 282. ficers of the standards and weights prescribed, &c. The treasurer certain number of pieces, not less than three, from ev to reserve a ery separate mass, to be assayed, &c. Vol. i. p. 816. § 16. That all the gold and silver coins which shall have been struck at, and issued from, the said mint, shall be a lawful tender in all payments whatsoever; those of full weight according to the respective values hereinbefore declared, and those of less Vol. i. than full weight at values proportional to their respective weights. Duty of the of § 17. That it shall be the duty of the respective officers of mint to make the said mint, carefully and faithfully to use their best endeavors, the coins conthat all the gold and silver coins which shall be struck at the form to the said mint shall be, as nearly as may be, conformable to the several standards and weights aforesaid, and that the copper whereof the cents and half cents aforesaid may be composed, shall be of good quality. § 18. And, the better to secure a due conformity of the said gold and silver coins to their respective standards, Be it further enacted, That, from every separate mass of standard gold or sil. ver, which shall be made into coins at the said mint, there shall be taken, set apart by the treasurer, and reserved in his custody, a certain number of pieces, not less than three, and that, once in every year, the pieces so set apart and reserved, shall be assayed under the inspection of the chief justice of the United States, the secretary and comptroller of the treasury, 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 said mint, on the last Monday in July in each year) or under Vol. i. p. 282. the inspection of any three of them, in such manner as they, or a majority of them, shall direct, and in the presence of the director, assayer, and chief coiner, of the said mint; and if it shall be found that the gold and silver so assayed, shall not be inferior to their respective standards, hereinbefore declared, more than one part in one hundred and forty-four parts, the officer or officers of the said mint, whom it may concern, shall be held excusable; but if any greater inferiority shall appear, it shall be certified to the president of the United States, and the said officer or officers shall be deemed disqualified to hold their respective offices. § 19. That if any of the gold or silver coins which shall be struck or coined at the said mint, shall be debased, or made worse, as to the proportion of fine gold or fine silver therein tained, or shall be of less weight or value than the same ought to ishable with con Degree of inferiority for which the officers of the mint are excusable, and otherwise, &c. Wilful debase ment of the coin,or embez⚫ zlement of metals or coins, deemed felo. ny, and pun death. |