1978: NOAA announces gender-neutral hurricane naming system
Federal News Network presents a daily update of important moments in the history of the U.S. government.
May 12, 20206:00 am
< a min read
The Coinage Act or the Mint Act, passed by Congress on April 2, 1792, created the U.S. dollar as the country’s standard unit of money, established the U.S. Mint and regulated the coinage of the United States. The law established the silver dollar as the unit of money in the United States, declared it to be lawful tender, and formed a decimal system for U.S. currency. The Mint had five original officers while one person could perform the functions of Chief Coiner and Engraver. The following coins were created as a result: Eagles ($10), Half eagles ($5), quarter eagles ($2.50), dollars or units ($1), half dollars ($0.50), quarter dollars ($0.25), dimes, half dimes, cents and half cents.