- July 22
- Congress removes legal tender status from the Trade dollar, limiting future production to export demand. [83.28] [307.56] (June 22 [174.94]) (July 13 [371.36])
- October 23
- The New Orleans Mint reopens as an Assay Office. [6] [119.93] [232.106]
- November 1
- Bangs, Merwin & Co auctions the Henry S. Adams specimen of the 1804 Draped Bust silver dollar. [142.72] [224.25]
1877
- January 1
- Oliver C. Bosbyshell begins tenure as chief coiner at the Philadelphia Mint. [191.81]
- January
- US Treasury Secretary John Sherman orders a halt to coinage of 1-, 3-, and 5-cent coins due to excess quantities in vault storage. [322.60]
- March 19
- Mint Director Henry Linderman authorizes and directs Carson City Mint Superintendent James Crawford to melt all 20-cent pieces on hand. [172.22] [352.42] [356.53]
- May 22
- A US patent is granted to William Wheeler Hubbell for the gold-silver alloy goloid, for coinage. [29.60]
- October
- Treasury Secretary John Sherman suspends coinage of Trade dollars. [307.56]
1878
- February 28
- US Congress enacts the Bland-Allison Act (over President Rutherford B. Hayes' veto). The act:
- eliminates the Trade dollar,
- requires the US Treasury to buy $2-4 million of silver at market rates per month and coin it as silver dollars,
- and authorizes silver certificates of deposit.
[1.188] [165.10] [174.94] [185.56] [327.48] (February 12 [83.28])
- Working hubs of Morgan-designed dollar coin are completed. [383.36]
- March 7
- The first two Proof Morgan-designed silver dollars are delivered to the Mint Cabinet. [322.56]
- March 11
- At the Philadelphia Mint, first strikes of the Morgan-designed silver dollar coin for circulation are made. The first strike is defective so is defaced. The second example is struck as a Proof, and presented to President Rutherford Hayes. The design is technically illegal, due to placement of words on sides; should be Liberty and date on obverse, USA and motto on reverse. [43.60] [93.38] [178.76] [206.18] [291.36] [322.56,62] [383.36] (August 5 [22.84])
- April
- Production of Trade dollars ceases for export purposes. [307.56]
- May 2
- An Act of Congress abolishes the 20-cent coin. [6] [216.74] [356.55]
- July 18
- The US Mint melts 44,148 Trade dollar coins. [41.58] (July 19 [174.94])
- September 17
- William E. DuBois authenticates the 1804 Draped Bust dollar of Robert Coulton Davis. [53.80]
- December 20
- Former Dahlonega Mint building destroyed by fire. [77.42]
1879
- January 1
- The US government resumes specie payments (gold and silver coins) for paper currency. [177.98] [304.81]
- February 20
- The New Orleans Mint re-opens, and commences coinage operations. [322.56]
- February 23
- New Orleans Mint resumes dollar coinage, after 18-year suspension. [91.56] [184.34] [327.48]
- March
- A. Loudon Snowden is appointed Philadelphia Mint superintendent. [322.61]
- November 1
- Carson City Mint coinage is suspended, due to silver stock reduced to 12,000 ounces. [251.16]
1880
- May 1
- Carson City Mint coinage resumes, with silver stock replenished to 227,000 ounces. [251.16]
- June 19
- Harpers Weekly publishes a full page illustration of "Coining Silver Dollars at the Philadelphia Mint". [36.56]
1882
- December 15
- Philadelphia Mint superintendent Snowden sends 25 5-cent pattern coins to Mint Director Horatio Burchard. The designs include head of Liberty, USA, and date on one side, and wreath "V" and motto on other. [322.62]
- December 18
- Philadelphia Mint superintendent Snowden replies to Treasury Secretary Charles Folger that the Coinage law of 1873 is in error on placement of words on sides, in regard to proposed 5-cent coin design. [322.62]
- December 23
- Philadelphia Mint superintendent Snowden replies to Treasury Secretary Charles Folger that the 1873 Coinage law would be complied with in the location of wording on coins. [322.62]
1883
- January 6
- Philadelphia Mint superintendent Snowden sends several patterns of proposed 5-cent coin design to Washington for approval. [322.63]
- January 8
- Treasury Secretary Charles Folger notifies Mint Director Horatio Burchard of approval of 5-cent design, allowing coinage to commence. [322.63]
- January 31
- The Philadelphia Mint makes first strikes of new 5-cent coin. The first coin struck is sent to President Chester Arthur. [322.63]
- February 1
- The Philadelphia Mint begins production of new design 5-cent coins for circulation. [322.63]
- February 20
- Mint engraver begins work on incorporating "CENTS" into 5-cent coin design. [322.63]
- March
- The Philadelphia Mint begins coinage of 5-cent piece with "CENTS" as part of design. [322.63]
- May 23
- T. Harrison Garrett purchases the O.H. Berg specimen of the 1804 Draped Bust dollar from John W. Haseltine for $765. [29.60] [34.84] [365.28] [214.14]
- December 3
- President Arthur asks Congress to terminate the Trade dollar. [305.24]
1884
- October 13
- Adolph Weyl in Berlin, Germany, auctions an 1804 Draped Bust dollar to the Chapman brothers for $1000. [58.68] [224.25] [307.36]
1885
- May 14
- Coin dealer J.W. Scott purchases an 1804 Draped Bust dollar coin for James V. Dexter from the Chapman brothers for US$1000. [28.88]
- July 2
- $1 million in bullion is reported missing at the New Orleans Mint. [371.36]
- September 25
- The Francis W. Furman copy of the 1804 Draped Bust silver dollar is stolen from his residence in Providence, Rhode Island. [54.42]
- November 6
- US mint at Carson City, Nevada directed to close. [6]
- November 7
- The Carson City Mint closes. [68.70] [128.36] [143.36] [292.32] (March 18 [40.78])
1886
- April 9
- US House of Representatives votes to reject the free silver coinage bill. [21.22]
- May 6
- The US Senate confirms James P. Kimball as US Mint director. [361.36]
1887
- February 10
- Mint Superintendent A. Loudon Snowden declares Dexter 1804 Draped Bust dollar genuine. [170.56]
- March 3
- Legislation is passed providing for six-month redemption period of Trade dollars at face value, provided they have not been defaced, mutilated, or stamped. (Nearly 7 million are redeemed.) [174.94] (February [307.58])
- March
- The law authorizing the Trade dollar is repealed. [307.58]
1889
- July 1
- US mint at Carson City, Nevada reopens. [6]
1890
- September 26
- The Mint Act abolishes the $1 and $3 gold coins and 3-cent piece. Coinage designs must be used for a minimum of 25 years before they can be redesigned without special congressional approval. [1.80] [6] [41.78] [54.42] [142.66] [212.18] [291.22] [380.34,48]
1891
- July 3
- Compiled results of a public design competition for the 10-cent piece are delivered to the Treasury Secretary. None of the submitted designs is considered suitable. [380.50]
- October 7
- American Numismatic Association is founded, with William G. Jerrems as first president. [124.44] [383.44]
- November 5
- New coin designs by Chief Engraver Charles Barber for the half dollar, quarter dollar, and dime are announced. [128.36]
- December
- The last dimes of the seated Liberty design are struck. [308.74]
1892
- January 2
- The Philadelphia Mint strikes first Barber-designed dimes. [318.32]
- August 6
- Congress authorizes the World's Columbian Exposition half dollar. [44.67] [253.68] [376.44]
- November 19
- The US Mint begins striking 1892 World's Columbian Exposition commemorative half dollar. This is the first US commemorative coin. [130.24] [178.25] [292.32]
- December 19
- First Columbian half dollar coins are received by World's Columbian Exposition officials. [305.24]
1893
- March 3
- Congress authorizes Isabella commemorative quarter dollar. [289.70]
- June
- San Francisco Mint officials order a halt to coining dimes due to excess inventory. [303.63]
1894
- January 27
- The US Senate confirms G.E. Roberts as Mint director. [257.20]
1895
- February 20
- Congress changes designation of the Denver Assay Office to Denver Mint, with authority to strike gold and silver coins. [6] [265.24]
1896
- April 20
- Congress appropriates US$60,000 to purchase property to erect a mint facility in Denver, Colorado. [4.60] [99.36]
1899
- February 24
- Congress changes status of Carson City Mint to assay office. [91.56] [288.36]
- March 3
- US Congress authorizes Lafayette silver dollar. [6]
- December 14
- The US Mint produces all 50,026 examples of the 1900 Lafayette commemorative silver dollar. [129.87] [238.48] [305.22] [335.40]
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