Act of March 3, 1843
Regulating the legal-tender value of foreign gold and silver coins in the United States.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That from and after the passage of this act, the following foreign gold coins shall pass current as money within the United States, and be receivable, by weight, for the payment of all debts and demands, at the rates following, that is to say: the gold coins of Great Britain, of not less than nine hundred and fifteen and a half thousandths in fineness, at ninety-four cents and six-tenths of a cent per pennyweight; and the gold coins of France, of not less than eight hundred and ninety-nine thousandths in fineness, at ninety-two cents and nine-tenths of a cent per pennyweight.
SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That from and after the passage of this act, the following foreign silver coins shall pass current as money within the United States, and be receivable by tale, for the payment of all debts and demands, at the rates following, that is to say: the Spanish pillar dollars, and the dollars of Mexico, Peru, and Bolivia, of not less than eight hundred and ninety-seven thousandths in fineness, and four hundred and fifteen grains in weight, at one hundred cents each; and the five franc pieces of France, of not less than nine hundred thousandths in fineness, and three hundred and eighty-four grains in weight, at ninety-three cents each.
SEC. 3. Directs that assays be made annually to determine the value of foreign coins for legal-tender purposes.