The Newhampshire gazetteer — Exeter, N.H., 1792-05-02 00:00:00, page 1

purpose of a national
coinage, be, and the
fame is established; to be situate and
carried on at the feat of government
of the United States, for the time be
iug : And that for the well conducing
of the bofinefs of the said mint, there
shall be the following officers and per
sons, namely—a director,an alTajer, a
chief coiner,an engraver, a treasurer.
And be it further enacted, That the
director of the mint shall employ as
many clerks, workmen and Servants
as he shall from time to time find ne
cessary, fubjed to the approbation
of the President of the United States.
And be it further enabled, That the
refpedive factions and duties of the
officers abovementioned (hall be as fol
low. —The director of the mint shall
have the chief management of the bu
siness thereof,and (hall superintend all
other officers and persons who (hall be
employed therein. The assayer flhall
receive and give receipts for all me
tals which may lawfully be broughgto
the mint to be coined ; (hall assay all
such of them ^s may require it, and
shall deliver them to the chief coiner
to be coined. The chief coiner (hall
cause to be coined all metals which
shall be received by him for that pur
pofc, according to such regulations as
shall be prescribed by this or any fu
ture law. The engraver (hall fink and
prepare the necessary dies for such
coinage, with the proper devices and
inscriptions, but it (hall be lawful for
the fur, * ons and duties of chief coin
er and engraver to be performed by
one person. The treasurer (ball re
ceive from the chief coiner all the
coins which shall have been struck,
and (hall pay or deliver them to the
persons refpeaively to whom the fame
ought to be paid or delivered : He
shall moreover receive and fafely keep
all monies which shall be for the use,
maintenance and fapport of the mint,
and (hall disburse the fame upon war
rants signed by the diredor.
And be it farther enaded, That every
officer and clerk of the said mint shall
before he enters upon the execution
of his office, take an oath or affir
mation before some Judge of the
United States faithfully and dili
gently to perform the duties thereof.
And be it further enafled, That the
said assayer, chief coiner and treafur
er,previoufly to entering upon the ex
ecution of their refpedive offices shall
each become bound to the United
States of America, with one or more
sureties to the fatisfa&ion of the Se
cretary of the Treasury in the lum of
ten thousand dollars, with condition
for the faithfol and diligent perform
ance of the duties of his office.
And be it further en&aed, That there
shall be allowed and paid as compe'n
fations for their refeeftive services-
To the said director a yearly salary of
two thousand dollars, 'to the said as
sayer, a yearly salary of one thousand
EXETER, (New-Ham,/hire) Printed and Published by HENRY RANLET, at Nine Shillings per annum.
Newhampfhire
^n ACT to eftablifo a Mint,
and regulate the Coins of
the United States.
WEDNESDAY, May 2, 1792.]
CONGRESS.
E it enaftd by ihe Senate
and House of Represen
tatives of the United
States of America tn
Congress offemblea —
That a mint for the
five hundred dollars, to t^e said chief
coiner, a,earl, salary of one thous
and five hundred dollars, <6 the (aid
engraver,a yearly salary of one thous
and two hundred dollars, to the said
rreafurer a yearly salary of one thous
and two hundred dollars, to each clerk
who may be cmployed,a yearly salary
not exceeding five hundred dollars,
and to the feverai subordinate work
men and servants such wages and al
lowances as are cuftwmary and rea
sonable, according to their respec
tive Rations and occupations,
14nd be it further erased, 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 con
cerning the business and admiaiftrati
on thereof Shall be adjusted and fet
tled in. the Treasury department ofthe
United States, and a quarter yearly
account of the- receipts and disburse
ments cf the feid mint shall be ren
dered at the said treasury for Settle
ment according to such forms and
regulations as shall have been pre
scribed by that department ; and that
once in each year a report of the
tranfadions of the said mint,accompa
nied by an abftrad of the Settlements
which shall have been from time to
time made,duly certified by the Com
ptroller of the Treasury, shall be laid
before Cong-refs for their information.
14nd be it further enaaed, That in
addition to the authority veiled in the
President of the United States by a
resolution of the last session, touching
the engaging of artiffs and the pro
curing of apparatus for the said mint,
the President be authorized, and he
hereby is. authorized, to cause to
be provided and put in proper con
dition such buildings, and in such
manner as shall appear to him requi
site, for the purpose of carrying on
the business of said mint ; and that as
well the expenses which shall have
been incurred pursuant to the said re
solution as those which may be in
incurred in providing and preparing
the said buildings, and all other ex
penses which may hereafter accrue for
the maintenance & 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 herein after
mentioned,fhall be defrayed from the
Treasury of theUnitedStates out of any
monies which from time to time shall
be therein,not otherwise appropriated.
And be it further enaAed, That there
shall be from time to time flruck and
coined at the said mint, coins of gold,
silver and copper,of the following de
nominations, values and descriptions,
viz. Eagles—each to be of the value
of ten dollars or units, and to contain
two hundred and forty seven grains
and four eighths of a grain of 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 twen
ty three grains and fix eighths of a
grain of pure, or one hundred and
thirty five grains of standard gold.
Quarter Eagles—each to be of
the value two dollars and a half dol
lar, 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 Units —each to be of the value of
a Spanish milled dollart as the fame is
now current, and to contain three hun-
THE
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 cf a dollar, and to con
tain eighteen grains and nine sixteenth
parts of a grain of pure, or twenty
grains and four fifth part of a grain of
standard silver. Cents—each to be
of the value of the one hundreth part
of a dollar,& to contain eleven penny
weights of copper. Half Cents—
each to be of the value of half a cent,
apd to contain five penny-weight and
half a penny-weight of copper.
And be it further enaaed. That upon
the said coins refpeflively there shall
be the following devices and legends
namely: Upon one fide of each of the
said coins there shall be an impression
emblematick,of Liberty, with an in
scription of the word Liberty,and the
year of the coinage ; and upon the re
verse of each of the go'd & silver coins
there shall be the figureor representa
tion of an eagle with this inscription,
"United jtatesof America,"
and upon the rtverfe of each of the
copper coins, there shall be an in
scription which shall express the de
nomination of the piece, namely, cent
or half cent, as the case may require.
And be it further enaaed, That 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 weight, of pure gold or
pure silver ; that is to fay, every fif
teen pounds weight of pure silver shall
be of equal value in all payments,with
one pound weight of pure gold, and
so in prpportion as to any greater or
left quantities of the refpe&ive metals.
And be it further enaaed, That the
standard for all gold coins of the
United States, shall be eleven parts
fine to one part alloy ; and according
ly that eleven parts in twelve^ of the
entire weight cf each of the said coins
shall consist of pure gold, and the re
maining one twelfth part of alloy ;
and the said alloy shall be composed
of silver and copper, in such propor
tions not exceeding one half silver as
shall be found convenient ; to be re
gulated by the diredor of the mint,
for the time being, with the approba
tion of-the President of the United
States, until further provision shall be
made by law. And to the end that the
necessary information may be had in
order to the making of such further
provision, it shall be the duty,of the
Diredor of the mint, at the expira
tion of a year after commencing the
operations of the said mint, to report
to Congress the practice thereof during
the said year, touching the compo
sition ofthe alley of the said gold
coins, the reasons for such pradice,
dred and seventy one grains and four
fifteenth parts of a grain of pure, or
four hundred and sixteen grains of
standard silver. Half Dollars—
each to be half of the value of the dol
lar or unit, and to contain one hun
dred and, eighty five grains and ten
sixteenth parts of a grain of pure, or
two hundred and eight grains of fland
ard silver. Quarter Dollars —
each to be of one fourth the value of
the dollar or unit,and to contain nine
ty two grains and thirteen sixteenth
parts of a grain of pure, or one hun
dredand four grains of standard silver.
Dismes—each to be of the value of
one tenth of a dollar or un|t, and to
Gazetteer.
and the experiments and observations
which shall have been made concern
ing the effect of different proportions
of silver and copper in the feid alloy.
And be it further enaaed, That the
standard for all silver coins of the Un
ited States, shall be one thonfand four
hundred and eighty five parts fine to
one hundred and seventy nine parts
alloy ; and accordingly that one thous
and four hundred and eighty five parts
in one thousand fix hundred and sixty
four parts of the entire weight ofeach
of the said coins shall consist cf pure
silver, and the remaining one hun
dred and seventy nine parts of alloy ;
which alloy shall be wholly of copper.
. And be it further enacted. That it
shall be lawful for any person or per
sons to bring to the said mint gold and
silver bullion, in order to their being
coined ; and that the bullion so bro't
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 fame
(hall have been brought. And as fooa
as the said bullion shall be coined,
the person or persons by whom the fame
shall have been delivered, shall upon
demand receive in lieu thereof coins
of the farce species of bullion which
shall have been so delivered, weight
for weight, of the pure gold or silver
therein contained : Provided neverthe
less, that it shall be at the mutual op
tion of the party or parties bringing
such bullion,and of the Director of the
said mint, to make an immediate ex.
change of coins for standard bullion,
with a deduction of one half per cent,
from the weight cf the pure gold, or
pure silver contained in the said bul
lion,as an indemnification to the mine
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 furnilh the said mint from
time to time whenever the state of
tho Treasury will admit thereof, with
such fams as may be necessary for ef
feding the said exchanges, to be re
placed as speedily as may be out of
the coins which shall have been made
of the bullion for which the monies so
furnifhed shall have been exchanged ;
and the said dedudion of one half per
cent, shall constitute a fund towards
defraying the expenses ofthe said mint.
And be it further enacted, That the
bullion which shall be brought as a
forefaid to the mint to be coined.fhall
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 prio
rity of delivery only, and without
preference to any person or persons ;
and if any preference shall be given
contrary to the direction aforefaid,the
officer by whom such undue prefer,
ence shall be given, shall in each case
forfeit and pay one thoufend 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 fame, a memo
randum in writing under hii hand,de
noting the weighty finenefi and value
thereof, together with the day and
order of its delivery into the mint.
And be it further enacted. That all
the gold and silver coins which shall
[Numb. 44 of Volume 6,