Defined the dollar as the legal unit of United States currency and regulated the standard weight and composition of specie—coins with intrinsic metal value equal to their face value. A bimetallic standard was established between gold and silver such that 15 units of pure silver was equavlent to 1 unit of pure gold. Standard composition of gold was set to 91.67% (22k) pure with a balance of silver and copper, while silver was to be 89.24% pure with a balance of copper.
Prior to any copper coins being struck their weight was reduced.
In response to rising copper prices, President Washington took action to adjust the weight of copper coins, "as deemed beneficial to the nation." These new weights were approximately 64% of the original weights defined in the Coinage Act of 1792.
Reduced the standard weight of gold specie, adjusting the gold to silver ratio to 16:1. The composition of eagles was reduced to 90% gold with a balance of pure copper, while quarter and half eagles were reduced to 89.92% gold with a balance of silver and copper.
Redefined the standard weight and composition of all specie, maintaining the 16:1 gold to silver ratio established by the Coinage Act of 1834. Gold and silver was to be 90% pure with the balance in gold made up of silver and copper, and the balance of silver to be pure copper.
In response to the California Gold Rush, this act authorized the minting of gold specie in $1.00 and $20.00 denominations of 90% gold as specified in the Coinage Act of 1837.
Authorized a three-cent silver "trime" to be minted, containing three parts silver to one part copper. This resulted in the first American fiduciary silver coin to be authorized—one with intrinsic metal composition worth considerably less than its face value.
Authorized the minting of a new $3.00 gold piece in the standard composition of 90% pure gold. It reduced the weight of fractional silver specie by approximately 7%, and set the composition of the trime to match the 90% standard of the Coinage Act of 1837.
The Act limited the legal tender status of all silver specie to $5.00, and removed the provision of free coinage of silver bullion into fractional coins. Instead, the Mint was authorized to purchase silver bullion and use it to create the new lighter coins; the profit (seigniorage) to be credited to the Treasury.
Ended the legal tender status of all foreign coins and abolished the half cent. The cent was dramatically reduced in size and weight, and the composition was changed to 88% copper and 12% nickel.
Authorized the coining of a bronze two-cent piece, and modified the composition of the cent to match. Both coins were granted legal tender status up to $0.10 per transaction.
Authorized a cupronickel three-cent piece to circulate alongside the silver three-cent trime.
Authorized a cupronickel five-cent piece to circulate alongside the silver half dime as legal tender up to $1.00.
Abolished the two-cent, trime, half dime, and silver dollar. A new trade dollar was authorized, but silver specie was still limited to legal tender of $5.00 per the Coinage Act of 1853. Fractional silver coins were made slightly heaver such that an equivalent of $1.00 in each coin would weigh 25 grams (thereafter converting weights to the metric system).
This unofficially removed the United States from a bimetallic system, placing it instead on a shared international gold standard with France and Britain. It would be formalized by the Gold Standard Act of 1900, fixing the dollar to 25.8 gr of 90% gold.
Authorized a twenty-cent silver "double dime" to be coined.
Demonetized the trade dollar, removing its status as legal tender within the United States. It continued to be produced for export trade.
Required the Treasury to purchase each month between $2 to $4 million silver bullion at market rates and coin the metal into dollars; restoring the coin from its abolishment five years prior. Though never officially abolished, the trade dollar was discontinued by this return of the silver dollar.
Abolished the twenty-cent silver "double dime" after only 3 years of production.
Abolished the gold $1.00 and $3.00 specie, as well as the nickel three-cent piece.
A second Act enacted the same day allowed for the Director of the Mint, with approval from the Secratary of the Treasury, to modify any coin design without the need for Congressional legislation; so long as at least 25 years have passed since the last change.
Presidential order to "prohibit the hoarding of gold" and requiring private individuals and corporations to deposit all gold specie within the Federal Reserve Bank. Coins were immediately removed from circulation, and Mint production was discontinued. Though the limitation on gold ownership was later abrogated, gold specie never again circulated within the United States.
Congress authorizes a temporary "war nickel" composition to be used during World War II, comprised of up to half silver with a copper alloy to be determined by the Mint.
A similar act enacted December 18, 1942, allowed for a modification of the bronze cent.
Eliminated all silver content from the dime and quarter dollar, reduced the silver content of the half dollar to 40%, and suspended coinage of the silver dollar for a period of five years (an Act of 1964 had authorized minting new Peace Dollars dated 1965). Legal tender status was granted to all United States currency—past and current—for any amount, remonetizing the trade dollar.
Eliminated all silver content from the half dollar and dollar, officially ending circulation of specie in the United States.
Drastically reduced the size and weight of the dollar in an attempt to increase popularity and thereby circulation.
When determined by the Treasury that the price of copper had risen too high in relation to the composition of the cent, the Mint transitioned from bronze alloy to that of copper-plated zinc. This had been pre-legislated by the Act of October 11, 1974, giving authority to the Secretary of the Treasury to modify cent composition if deemed necessary.
Authorized the creation of the 50 State Quarters program, modifying the reverse design of the quarter dollar five times a year for a length of ten years.
Additionally authorized an updated dollar to "be golden in color, [with] a distinctive edge." The Mint landed on a composition of managanese brass clad to a copper core.
Mutliple commemorative programs have since been authorized for various denominations; including the Lincoln Bicentennial cents, the Westward Journey nickels, the American Women quarters, and the American Innovation dollars.