WASHINGTON, February 3, 1857.
To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States:
I transmit herewith the report of the Director of the Mint, showing the operations of the Mint and its branches for the last year.
FRANKLIN PIERCE.
PROCLAMATIONS.
[From Laws of the United States of America (John Bioren and W. John Duane, Philadelphia, and R.C. Weightman, Washington City, 1815), Vol. V, p. 511.]
BY GEORGE WASHINGTON, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
A PROCLAMATION.
Whereas by an act supplementary to the act entitled "An act establishing a mint and regulating the coins of the United States," passed on the 3d day of March, 1795, "the President of the United States is authorized, whenever he shall think it for the benefit of the United States, to reduce the weight of the copper coin of the United States, provided such reduction shall not in the whole exceed 2 pennyweights in each cent and in like proportion in a half cent; of which he shall give notice by proclamation;" and
Whereas, on account of the increased price of copper and expense of coinage, I have thought it would be for the benefit of the United States to reduce the weight of the copper coin of the United States 1 pennyweight and 16 grains in each cent and in like proportion in each half cent, and the same has since the 27th day of December last been reduced accordingly: