1886 Mint Report

Appendix XXXII.

COINS OF THE UNITED STATES, AUTHORITY FOR COINING, AND CHANGES IN WEIGHT AND FINENESS.

GOLD COINS

Double eagle.

• Authorized to be coined, act of March 3, 1849.
• Weight, 516 grains; fineness, 900.
• Total amount coined to close of fiscal year ended June 30, 1886, $1,025,876,120.

Eagle.

• Authorized to be coined, act of April 2, 1792.
• Weight, 270 grains; fineness, 916 2/3.
• Weight changed, act of June 28, 1834, to 258 grains.
• Fineness changed, act of June 28, 1834, to 899.225.
• Fineness changed, act of January 18, 1837, to 900.
• Total amount coined to close of fiscal year ended June 30, 1886, $175,809,120.

Half eagle.

• Authorized to be coined, act of April 2, 1792.
• Weight, 135 grains; fineness, 916 2/3.
• Weight changed, act of June 28, 1834, to 129 grains.
• Fineness changed, act of June 28, 1834, to 899.225.
• Fineness changed, act of January 18, 1837, to 900.
• Total amount coined to close of fiscal year ended June 30, 1886, $172,985,685.

Quarter eagle.

• Authorized to be coined, act of April 2, 1792.
• Weight, 67.5 grains; fineness, 916 2/3.
• Weight changed, act of June 28, 1834, to 64.5 grains.
• Fineness changed, act of June 28, 1834, to 899.225.
• Fineness changed, act of January 18, 1837, to 900.
• Total amount coined to close of fiscal year ended June 30, 1886, $28,415,992.50.

Three-dollar piece.

• Authorized to be coined, act of February 21, 1853.
• Weight, 77.4 grains; fineness, 900.
• Total amount coined to close of fiscal year ended June 30, 1886, $1,574,520.

One dollar.

• Authorized to be coined, act of March 3, 1849.
• Weight, 25.8 grains; fineness, 900.
• Total amount coined to close of fiscal year ended June 30, 1886, $19,397,091.

SILVER COINS

Dollar piece.

• Authorized to be coined, act of April 2, 1792.
• Weight, 416 grains; fineness, 892.4.
• Weight changed, act of January 18, 1837, to 412 1/2 grains.
• Fineness changed, act of January 18, 1837, to 900.
• Coinage discontinued, act of February 12, 1873.
• Total amount coined to February 12, 1873, $8,045,838.
• Coinage reauthorized, act of February 28, 1878.
• Amount coined from March 1, 1878, to June 30, 1886, $233,723,286 (including $1,837 recoined).

Trade dollar.

• Authorized to be coined, act of February 12, 1873.
• Weight, 420 grains; fineness, 900.
• Coinage limited to export demand, joint resolution July 22, 1876.
• Total amount coined to close of fiscal year ended June 30, 1886, $35,965,924.

Half dollar.

• Authorized to be coined, act of April 2, 1792.
• Weight, 208 grains; fineness, 892.4.
• Weight changed, act of January 18, 1837, to 206 1/4 grains.
• Fineness changed, act of January 18, 1837, to 900.
• Weight changed, act of February 21, 1853, to 192 grains.
• Weight changed, act of February 12, 1873, to 12 1/2 grams, or 192.9 grains.
• Total amount coined to close of fiscal year ended June 30, 1886, $122,771,345.

Quarter dollar.

• Authorized to be coined, act of April 2, 1792.
• Weight, 104 grains; fineness, 892.4.
• Weight changed, act of January 18, 1837, to 103 1/8 grains.
• Fineness changed, act of January 18, 1837, to 900.
• Weight changed, act of February 21, 1853, to 96 grains.
• Weight changed, act of February 12, 1873, to 6 1/4 grams, or 96.45 grains.
• Total amount coined to close of fiscal year ended June 30, 1886, $38,496,723.75.

Twenty-cent piece.

• Authorized to be coined, act of March 3, 1875.
• Weight, 5 grams, or 77.16 grains; fineness, 900.
• Coinage prohibited, act of May 2, 1878.
• Total amount coined, $271,000.

Dime.

• Authorized to be coined, act of April 2, 1792.
• Weight, 41.6 grains; fineness, 892.4.
• Weight changed, act of January 18, 1837, to 41 1/4 grains.
• Fineness changed, act of January 18, 1837, to 900.
• Weight changed, act of February 21, 1853, to 38.4 grains.
• Weight changed, act of February 12, 1873, to 2 1/2 grams, or 38.58 grains.
• Total amount coined to close of fiscal year ended June 30, 1886, $18,785,608.10.

Half dime.

• Authorized to be coined, act of April 2, 1792.
• Weight, 20.8 grains; fineness, 892.4.
• Weight changed, act of January 18, 1837, to 20 5/8 grains.
• Fineness changed, act of January 18, 1837, to 900.
• Weight changed, act of February 21, 1853, to 19.2 grains.
• Coinage discontinued, act of February 12, 1873.
• Total amount coined, $4,906,946.90.

Three-cent piece.

• Authorized to be coined, act of March 3, 1851.
• Weight, 12 3/8 grains; fineness, 750.
• Weight changed, act of March 3, 1853, to 11.52 grains.
• Fineness changed, act of March 3, 1853, to 900.
• Coinage discontinued, act of February 12, 1873.
• Total amount coined, $1,281,850.20.

MINOR COINS

Five cent (nickel).

• Authorized to be coined, act of May 16, 1866.
• Weight, 77.16 grains, composed of 75 per cent. copper and 25 per cent. nickel.
• Total amount coined to close of fiscal year ended June 30, 1886, $8,139,295.60.

Three cent (nickel).

• Authorized to be coined, act of March 3, 1865.
• Weight, 30 grains, composed of 75 per cent. copper and 25 per cent. nickel.
• Total amount coined to close of fiscal year ended June 30, 1886, $891,009.

Two cent (bronze.

• Authorized to be coined, act of April 22, 1864.
• Weight, 96 grains, composed of 95 per cent. copper and 5 per cent. tin and zinc.
• Coinage discontinued, act of February 12, 1873.
• Total amount coined, $912,020.

Cent (copper).

• Authorized to be coined, act of April 2, 1792.
• Weight, 264 grains.
• Weight changed, act of January 14, 1793, to 208 grains.
• Weight changed by proclamation of the President January 26, 1796, in conformity with the act of March 3, 1795, to 168 grains.
• Coinage discontinued, act of February 21, 1857.
• Total amount coined, $1,562,887.44.

Cent (nickel).

• Authorized to be coined, act of February 21, 1857.
• Weight, 72 grains, composed of 88 per cent. copper and 12 per cent. nickel.
• Coinage discontinued, act of April 22, 1864.
• Total amount coined, $2,007,720.

Cent (bronze).

• Coinage authorized, act of April 22, 1864.
• Weight, 48 grains, composed of 95 per cent. copper and 5 per cent. tin and zinc.
• Total amount coined to close of fiscal year ended June 30, 1886, $3,928,127.94.

Half cent (copper).

• Authorized to be coined, act of April 2, 1792.
• Weight, 132 grains.
• Weight changed, act of January 14, 1793, to 104 grains.
• Weight changed by proclamation of the President January 26, 1796, in conformity with the act of March 3, 1795, to 84 grains.
• Coinage discontinued, act of February 21, 1857.
• Total amount coined, $39,926.11.