HALF-DOLLAR. A silver coin of the United States, of half the value of the dol lar or unit, and containing one hundred and eighty-five grains and ten-sixteenth parts of a grain of pure, or two hundred and eight grains of standard, silver. Act of April 2, 1792. Under the provisions of this law, the fineness of the silver coins of the United States was 892.4 thousandths of pure silver.
The weight and fineness of the silver coins were somewhat changed by the act of Jan. 18, 1837; the weight of the half-dollar being by this act fixed at two hundred and six and one-quarter grains, and the fineness at nine hundred thousandths; conforming, in respect to fineness with the coinage of France and most other nations.
The weight of the half-dollar was reduced by the provisions of the act of February 21, 1853, to one hundred and ninety-two grains.
The half-dollars coined under the acts of 1792 and 1837 (as above) were a legal tender at their nominal value in payment of debts to any amount. Those coined since the act
of February 21, 1853, were, under it a legal tender in payment of debts for all sums not exceeding five dollars. Sec. 2. The silver coins struck in the year 1853, under this last cited act, may be distinguished from the oth ers of that year by the arrow-heads on the right and left of the date of the piece. In 1854, and subsequent years, the arrow-heads are omitted.
By the act of 12 Feb. 1873, the weight of the half-dollar shall be twelve and one-half grams (192.9 grains), and by act of June 9, 1879, it is a legal tender for sums not ex ceeding ten dollars. The same act enables the holder of any silver coins of a smaller denomination than one dollar, to exchange them in sums of twenty dollars, or any mul tiple thereof, at the U. S. Treasury, fbr law ful money of the United States.