Dollar

The Spanish milled dollar was the type of the American silver dollar. By Act of 1792, 371 grains of pure silver and 24% grains of pure gold were declared to be equivalent to each other and to the dollar of account. ‘The silver dollar was first coined in 1794, weighing 416 grains (371 plus alloy). In 1837 the weight of alloy was so reduced that the weight of the coin should be 412% grains. The gold dollar was first coined in 1849. In 1873 provision was made for a trade dollar of 420 grains, for use in the trade with China and Japan. From 1873 to 1878 the i ue of the old silver dollar was suspended. The gold half-dollar and quarter-dollar were never coined by the U. S. Government. The silver half-dollar has been coined since 1794. Its weight, at first 208 grains, was subsequently reduced to 206.25 in 1837, to 192 in 1853, and raised to 192.9 in 1873. The quarter-dollar, coinage of which began in 1796, has undergone corresponding changes of weight.