There are ten different kinds of money in circulation in the United States, namely, gold coins, standard silver dollars, subsidiary silver, gold certificates, silver certificates, Treasury notes issued under the act of July 14, 1890, United States notes (also called greenbacks and legal tenders), national-bank notes and nickel and bronze coins. These forms of money are all available as circulation. While they do not all possess the full legal-tender quality, each kind has such attributes as to give it currency. The status of each kind is as follows:

Gold coin is legal tender at its nominal or face value for all debts, public and private, when not below the standard weight and limit of tolerance prescribed by law; and when below such standard and limit of tolerance it is legal tender in proportion to its weight.

Standard silver dollars are legal tender at their nominal or face value in payment of all debts, public and private, without regard to the amount, except where otherwise expressly stipulated in the contract.

Subsidiary silver is legal tender for amounts not exceeding $10 in any one payment.

Treasury notes of the act of July 14, 1890, are legal tender for all debts, public and private, except where otherwise expressly stipulated in the contract.

United States notes are legal tender for all debts, public and private, except duties on imports and interest on the public debt.

[United States notes, upon resumption of specie payments, January 1, 1879, became acceptable in payment of duties on imports and have been freely received on that account since the above date, but the law has not been changed.]

Gold certificates, silver certificates, and national bank notes are not legal tender, but both classes of certificates are receivable for all public dues, while national-bank notes are receivable for all public dues except duties on imports, and may be paid out by the Government for all salaries and other debts and demands owing by the United States to individuals, corporations, and associations within the United States, except interest on the public debt and in redemption of the national currency. All national banks are required by law to receive the notes of other national banks at par.

The minor coins of nickel and copper are legal tender to the extent of 25 cents.