Dollar

[Low. Sax. dahler; Dan. and Swed. daler; Ger. thaler; It. talero; L. Lat. dalerus, from A. S. dal, Ger. thal, a valley; the coin is said to have been first struck in the dale or valley of Joachim, in Bohemia.] The money unit of the U. States, which was taken from the once famous Spanish dollar or piastre. It was established under the Confederation by resolution of Congre , July 6, 1785, and the first coinage of dollars commenced in 1794. It was then only a silver piece, containing 371 4-16th grains of pure silver, and 416 grains of standard silver. The Act of Jan. 18, 1837, reduced the standard weight to 4121⁄2 grains, but increased the finene to 900-1000ths, the quantity of pure silver remaining as before. The smaller silver coins are not of equal weight proportionally. By the Act of March 3, 1849, the coinage of gold dollars was authorized. They were i ued the same year, weighing 25 8-10th grains, 9-10ths fine, 23 22-100ths being pure gold. All other coins of the U. States are decimal multiples or subdivisions of the dollar. Dollart Bay, or THE DOLLERT, a large arm of the North Sea, extending between Hanover and Holland, to the mouth of the river Ems.