Sec. 1. BE it enacted by the Senate and House of Representative of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That there shall be appropriated for the purchase of copper for the further coinage of cents and half-cents, a sum equal to the amount of the cents and half-cents, which shall have been coined at the mint, and delivered to the treasurer of the United States, subsequent to the first day of January, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-six, which sum shall be payable out of any monies in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.

Sec.2. And be it further enacted, That from and after the passing of this act, there shall be retained from every deposit in the mint, of gold or silver bullion be low the standard of the United States, such sum as shall be equivalent to the expense incurred in refining the same, and an accurate account of such expense on very deposit, shall be kept, and of the sums retained on account of the same, which shall be accounted for the treasurer of the mint to the treasurer of the United States.

Sec.3. And be it further enacted, That this act shall continue in force for the term of two years from the passing thereof, and from thence until the end of the next Session of congress thereafter holden and no longer.

Approved, May the}

twenty-seventh, 1796}

Go: WASHINGTON, President of the

United States