ALLOY
Legal Dictionary -> ALLOYSearch:
ALLOYALLOY, or ALLAY. An inferior metal, used with gold. and silver in making
coin or public money. Originally, it was one of the allowances known by thename of remedy for errors, in the weight and purity of coins. The practiceof making such allowances
continued in all European mints after the reasons,upon which they were originally founded, had, in a great measure, ceased. Inthe imperfection of the art of coining, the mixture
of the metals used, andthe striking of the coins, could not be effected with, perfect accuracy.There would be some variety in the mixture of metals made at differenttimes,
although intended to be in the same proportions, and in differentpieces of coin, although struck by the same process and from the same die.But the art of coining metals has
now so nearly attained perfection, thatsuch allowances have become, if not altogether, in a great measure at least,unnecessary. The laws of the United States make no
allowance fordeficiencies of weight. See Report of the Secretary of State of the UnitedStates, to the Senate of the U. S., Feb. 22, 1821, pp. 63, 64. 2. The act of Congress
of 2d of April, 1792, sect. 12, directs that thestandard for all gold coins of the United States, shall be eleven parts fineto one part of alloy; and sect. 13, that the standard for all
silver coinsof the United States, shall be one thousand four hundred and eighty-fiveparts fine, to one hundred and seventy-nine parts alloy. 1 Story's L. U. S.20. By the act of
Congress, 18th Feb. 1831, Sec. 8, it is provided, that thestandard for both gold and silver coin of the United States, shall be such,that of one thousand parts by weight, nine
hundred shall be of pure metal,and one hundred of alloy; and the alloy of the silver coins shall be ofcopper, and the alloy of gold coins shall be of copper and silver,
provided,that the silver do not exceed one-half of the whole alloy. See also, Smith'sWealth of Nations, vol. i., pp. 49, 50.
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