Fourth Coinage Act

In 1873, Congress enacted the Fourth Coinage Act ("THE CRIME OF '73") which embraced the gold standard and de-monetized silver. Western mining interests and others who wanted silver in circulation labeled this measure the "Crime of '73". For about 5 years, gold was the only acceptable metallic standard in the United States.

See also:

• Resumption Act
• Sherman Silver Purchase Act
• Bland-Allison Act