US Coinage Act History...defacement/Destruction Of Coins

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Author	Replies: 6 / Views: 1,739
rynegold Valued Member United States 249 Posts	Posted 03/16/2012 2:28 pm Ok, here's what I'm after. Prior to the end of the 1860's, it was very common to see tableware, watch cases etc. made from coin silver... AND SO MARKED. My question is, when did the Fed. pass into law, a provision for protecting our coins from being melted down for such as I've just described? By the 1870s we had refiners back east turning out silver for the industry to alloy out into .925 which in effect, made melting "coin" for items no longer necessary. So when was the first instance of it being "unlawful" (i.e.'a law against') the destruction/melting/defacement of US minted coins? AND where can I find that information! thanks, m Report this Post to the Staff

just carl Bedrock of the Community United States 20753 Posts	Posted 03/16/2012 2:40 pm And for sure the kind of info Conder101 would know. Report this Post to the Staff
amida17 Pillar of the Community United States 4897 Posts	Posted 03/16/2012 3:20 pm It has never been illegal to melt U.S. silver coins. Except briefly from 1965-1967. Cents and Nickels have been illegal to melt since 2006. Edited by amida17 03/16/2012 3:22 pm Report this Post to the Staff
biokemist6 Bedrock of the Community United States 12437 Posts	Posted 03/16/2012 3:36 pm Amida has the correct answer, it has never been illegal to melt silver coinage except for the period around the withdrawal of silver from circulation after 1964. Report this Post to the Staff
rynegold Valued Member United States 249 Posts	Posted 03/16/2012 3:55 pm Thanks so much! that's what I needed to know. Report this Post to the Staff
bpoc1 Rest in Peace United States 4078 Posts	Posted 03/16/2012 5:10 pm Quote: Cents and Nickels have been illegal to melt since 2006. Amida, could you elaborate on this quote above to inform me. When was it legal to melt cents and nickels? Please excuse my lack of knowledge ( just a nice way of saying, stupidity.) lol Report this Post to the Staff
amida17 Pillar of the Community United States 4897 Posts	Posted 03/16/2012 5:39 pm bpoc1- You could melt cents and nickels for profit before 2006. Again with one exception, there was a cent melting ban from 1974-1978. Report this Post to the Staff
	Replies: 6 / Views: 1,739

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