Coinage Act: An Act revising & Amending the Laws Relative to the Mints, Assay Offices, & Coinage of the United States [February 12, 1873]

SEC. 14. 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 quartereagle, or two-and-a-half dollar piece; a three dollar piece; a half-eagle, or five-dollar piece; an eagle, or ten-dollar piece; and a double eagle, or twenty dollar piece . . .; 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, below said standard and tolerance, shall be a legal tender at valuation in proportion to their actual weight....

SECT I7. That the silver coins of the United States shall.be a trade-dollar, a half dollar, or fifty-cent piece, a quarter-dollar, or twenty five-cent piece, a dime, or ten cent piece; . . . and said coins shall be a legal tender at their nominal value for any amount not exceeding five dollars in any one payment.

SEC. I6. That the minor coins of the United States shall be a five-cent piece, a three cent piece, and a one-cent piece . . .; which coins shall be a legal tender, at their nominal value, for any amount not exceeding twenty-five cents in any one payment.

SEC. I7. That no coins, either of gold, silver, or minor coinage, shall hereafter be issued from the mint other than those of the denominations, standards, and weights herein set forth.