(1) No. $346,000,000 still circulate, much to the annoyance of the
National Bankers.
(2) Yes. Except for Import dues and interest on Bonds.
(3) The law declares that they are “money” and guarantees their payment;
hence they pass as money, but are not, strictly speaking, Legal Tender.
The basis of their circulation is the Credit of the Government. The
people have to pay taxes to meet the interest on the bonds in order that
the National Bankers shall have the vast profit and power of using the
Government Credit for their private gain.
(4) The privilege of taking silver bullion to the mint and having it
turned into coin on the same terms that are granted to the owners of gold
bullion.
(5) Yes.
(6) The Public Debt, at the time it was contracted, was payable in lawful
money. The same motives which led the money-Kings to impair the credit of
the Greenback with the “Exception Clause,” led Congress to change the law
to the effect that the bonds should be payable _in Coin_. This of course
meant either silver or gold, at the option of the Government. Another
step was taken and the bonds are now payable in gold.
(7) Because, under the rulings of the Secretary of the Treasury, the Gold
Reserve can be drawn upon to keep silver and paper currency up to the
Gold Standard. I presume that National Bankers prefer to keep their gold
because it is the money of final payment.
(8) Commercial usage, and the banks. Foreign coins have no legal status.
Their value and currency is a matter of private agreement.