The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-09-03
THE CRIME OF '73.

AS the Communication OF SILVER IN
1873 is often questioned and many in
quiries have reached the State Journal
as to just how it was done, we submit
below those sections of the bill which
have especial reference to this matter.
It will readily be observed that the
standard silver dollar of 4121z grains
was omitted from the list of coins and
the legal tender quality was taken
away from all silver coinage except in
sums not exceeding So
It will also be seen that having dis
carded the former unit of value, the sill
yer dollar, the gold dollar is specifically
mentioned as the unit. The first
law for the coinage of the gold dollar,
passed in 1s4s, said nothing about unit
of value.
This crime against the people was
committed under the guise of a revision
of the mint laws. The act demonetiz-
ing silver was passed February Y. 1873.
and was entitled: IAN act revising and
amending the laws relative to the mint,
assay offices and coinage of the United
States" 1t reads: Be it enacted, etc.
Section IA. That the gold coins of the
United States shall be a one dollar
piece which, at the standard weight of
twenty-five and eight-tenths grains,
shall be the unit of value; a quarter
eagle, or two and a half dollar piece;
three dollar piece; a half eagle or five
dollar piece; an eagle or ten dollar
piece and a double eagle or 20 dollar
piece. And the standard weight of the
gold dollar shall be twenty-five and
eight-tenths grains; of the quarter
eagle, or two and a half dollar piece,
"a and a half grains; of the three dollar
piece, II and four-tenths grains; of the
half eagle, or five dollar piece, one hun
dred and twenty-nine grains; of the ca
gle or ten dollar piece, two hundred and
dfty-eight grains; of the double eagle
or twenty dollar piece, five hundred and
sixteen grains; which coins shall be a
legal tender in all payments at their
nominal value when not below the
standard weight and limit of tolerance
provided in this act for the single
piece, and when reduced in weight, be-
low said standard and tolerance. shall
be a legal tender at valuation in pro-
portion to their actual weight; and any
gold coin of the United States, if re-
duced in weight by natural abrasion
not more than one-half of one per-
centum below the standard weight pre-
scribed by law, after a circulation of
20 years, as shown by its date of coin
age, and at ratable proportion for
any period less than 20 years, shall be
received at their nominal value by the
United States treasury and it's Offices
under such regulations as the secretary
of the treasury may prescribe |
for the protection of the government
against fraudulent abrasion or other
practices; and any gold coins in the
treasury of the United Staes reduced in
weight below this limit of abrasion
shall be recoined.
Sec Is. The silver coins of the Uni |
ted States shall be a trade dollar, half /
dollar, or fifty cent piece, a quarter dol |
lar, or twenty-five cent piece. a dime, or |
ten cent piece; and the weight of the
trade dollar shall be 42O grains troy; the
weight of the half dollar shall /
be twelve grams and one
half of a gram; the quarter dollar and /
the dime shall be, respectively, one-haf I
and one-ffth of the weight of the said /
half dollar; and said coins shall be a
legal tender at their nominal value for
any amount not exceeding FIVE doIIoars
in any one payment.