The Coinage Act of 1792
Alexander Hamilton (c. 1755–1804),
George Washington (1732–1799)
The Coinage Act of 1792, often known as the Mint Act or the Coinage Act, was an act of Congress passed on April 2, 1792, that founded the United States Mint in Philadelphia. The legislation established rules for coin design and manufacture, establishing the groundwork for contemporary U.S. money. The Coinage Act of 1792 defined the five mint officers’ responsibilities and designated the dollar as the nation’s primary unit of currency.