Signed into law by President George Washington on May 8, 1792
Copper Coinage Act of 1792 is a United States statute authorizing copper coinage to be engraved and issued by the United States Mint. The Act of Congress confirmed the procurement of copper not to exceed a weight of 150 short tons (300,000 lb). The United States Mint procured a shipment of copper at a weight of 15 short tons (30,000 lb) as endorsed by the first director of the mint David Rittenhouse.[3][4]
Copper Coinage Act of 1792 was penned as two sections providing authorizations and rulings for the issuance of authentic copper currency by the United States Mint.
U.S. Mint Director, appointed and endorsed by the Coinage Act of 1792, was authorized to contract and purchase a quantity of a group 11 element being pure or unalloyed copper. The coinage metal was to be defined as a federal standard having a consistency in uniformity and weight.[7][8]
Copper purchase quantity not to exceed a weight of 150 short tons (300,000 lb)
U.S. Mint Director to publish when a monetary sum has been paid into the United States Treasury
Forfeiture of copper planchets offered as milled coinage holding incredulous purchasing power which was not issued from the new foundry of the United States Mint
On April 21, 1787, the Continental Congress endorsed a contract for 300 short tons (600,000 lb) of copper coin being of federal standard from James Jarvis.[10] The copper coinage was milled as the first standardized coin of Colonial America known as the Fugio cent.[11][12]
Correspondence affirming a narrative concerning the Copper Coin Contract of 1787 with James Jarvis:
Continental Congress (April 21, 1787). "Report on Copper Coinage of 1787" [Board of Treasury to contract copper coin of Federal standard from James Jarvis]. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 32 (Saturday, April 21, 1787): 223–225.
^2nd United States Congress (May 8, 1792). "Copper Coinage Act of 1792". Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States, First Session, 1789-1793. I (Tuesday, May 8, 1792). U.S. Library of Congress: 605–606.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^2nd United States Congress (May 8, 1792). "Copper Coinage Act of 1792". Journal of the Senate of the United States of America, First Session, 1789-1793. I (Tuesday, May 8, 1792). U.S. Library of Congress: 442.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^Congress of the Confederation (July 6, 1787). "Copper Coinage Stamp as Fugio Cent". Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. XXXII. United States Library of Congress: 303–304. LCCN05000059.