Case Name: Frederick Bronson, executor, &c., plaintiff in error, agt. Peter Rodes, defendant in error
Court: Supreme Court of the United States
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1869-01
Citations: 36 How. Pr. 365
Docket Number: 
Parties: Frederick Bronson, executor, &c., plaintiff in error, agt. Peter Rodes, defendant in error.
Judges: 
Reporter: Howard's Practice Reports
Volume: 36
Pages: 365–366

Head Matter:
U. S. SUPREME COURT.
Frederick Bronson, executor, &c., plaintiff in error, agt. Peter Rodes, defendant in error.
There are two descriptions of lawful money in circulation in the United States, both sanctioned by the law and both a legal tender.
Where contracts for payment provide that it shall be paid in coin, the Judgment should be for such description of money according to the intent of the parties; -but where no description of money is named in the contract, judgment should be entered generally without specification. {Reverting the judgment of the XT. Y, Court of Appeals in this case—34 XT. Y. R. 649.)
Washington, January Term, 1869.
In error to the Court of Appeals of the State of New York. Chief Justice Chase delivered the opinion of the court, in this case, to the effect that contracts for the payment of coin should be enforced by the courts according to the intent of the parties. In this case a mortgage was made to secure payment of $1,500 in the state of Hew York, in 1851; and it was provided that the money should be paid in coin, the legal money of the United States. In January, 1865, tender was made in treasury notes, which was refused, and this action was brought to enforce such payment and secure a satisfaction of the mortgage in pursuance thereof. The court of appeals of Hew York held, that the tender was a discharge of the mortgage, and directed it to be cancelled.
The present supreme court now hold that there are two descriptions of lawful money in circulation, both sanctioned " by the law and both thereof a legal tender; that in view of this fact, contracts for payment must be enforced, and that where coin is provided to be paid, judgment should be for such description of money; but where no description is named, judgment should be entered generally without specification. The judgment of the New York court of appeals is reversed, with costs, and the cause remanded for further proceedings in conformity to the proceedings of the supreme court.

Opinion:
Justices Davis and Swathe concurred
delivering briefly, saparate opinions.
Justice Miller dissented.