US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

31 U.S.C. § 5101

Decimal system

1

1 So in original. Probably should be “hundredths,”.
United States money is expressed in dollars, dimes or tenths, cents or hundreths, and mills or thousandths. A dime is a tenth of a dollar, a cent is a hundredth of a dollar, and a mill is a thousandth of a dollar.

Pub. L. 97–25896 Stat. 980(, , .)

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised Section

Source (U.S. Code)

Source (Statutes at Large)

5101

31:371.

R.S. § 3563.

The word “money” is substituted for “money of account” to eliminate unnecessary words. As far as can be determined, the phrase “money of account” has not been interpreted by any court or Government agency. The phrase was used by Alexander Hamilton in his “Report on the Establishment of the Mint” (1791). In that Report, Hamilton propounded 6 questions, including:

 1st. What ought to be the nature of the money unit of the United States?

Thereafter, Hamilton uses the phrases “money unit of the United States” and “money of account” interchangeably and in the sense that the phrases are used to denote the monetary system for keeping financial accounts. In short, the phrases simply indicate that financial accounts are to be based on a decimal money system:

…, and it is certain that nothing can be more simple and convenient than the decimal subdivisions. There is every reason to expect that the method will speedily grow into general use, when it shall be seconded by corresponding coins. On this plan the unit in the money of account will continue to be, as established by that resolution [of ], a dollar, and its multiples, dimes, cents, and mills, or tenths, hundreths, [sic] and thousands.

The Writings of Thomas JeffersonThe Financier and the Finances of the American RevolutionHistory of the ConstitutionThus, the phrase “money of account” did not mean, by itself, that dollars or fractions of dollars must be equal to something having intrinsic or “substantive” value. This concept is supported by earlier writings of Thomas Jefferson in his “Notes on the Establishment of a Money Unit, and of a Coinage for the United States” (1784), and the 1782 report to the President of the Continental Congress on the coinage of the United States by the Superintendent of Finances, Robert Morris, which was apparently prepared by the Assistant Superintendent, Gouverneur Morris. See Paul L. Ford, , vol. III (G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1894) pp. 446–457; William G. Sumner, , vol. II (Burt Franklin, 1891, reprinted 1970) pp. 36–47; and George T. Curtis, , vol. I (Harper and Brothers, 1859) p. 443, n2. The words “or units” and “and all accounts in the public offices and all proceedings in the courts shall be kept and had in conformity to this regulation” are omitted as surplus.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Short Title of 2021 Amendment

Pub. L. 116–330, § 1134 Stat. 5101

section 5112 of this titlesection 5112 of this title“This Act [amending and enacting provisions set out as a note under ] may be cited as the ‘Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020’.”
, , , provided that:

Short Title of 2018 Amendment

Pub. L. 115–197, § 1132 Stat. 1515

section 5112 of this title“This Act [amending ] may be cited as the ‘American Innovation $1 Coin Act’.”
, , , provided that:

Short Title of 2014 Amendment

Pub. L. 113–118, § 1128 Stat. 1183

section 5111 of this title“This Act [amending provisions listed in a table of Commemorative Medals set out under ] may be cited as the ‘Gold Medal Technical Corrections Act of 2014’.”
, , , provided that:

Short Title of 2010 Amendment

Pub. L. 111–303, § 1124 Stat. 3275

section 5112 of this title“This Act [amending ] may be cited as the ‘American Eagle Palladium Bullion Coin Act of 2010’.”
, , , provided that:

Pub. L. 111–302, § 1124 Stat. 3272

section 5112 of this titlesection 5112 of this title“This Act [amending and enacting provisions set out as notes under ] may be cited as the ‘Coin Modernization, Oversight, and Continuity Act of 2010’.”
, , , provided that:

Short Title of 2008 Amendment

Pub. L. 110–456, § 1122 Stat. 5038

section 5112 of this titlesection 5112 of this title“This Act [amending and enacting provisions set out as a note under ] may be cited as the ‘America’s Beautiful National Parks Quarter Dollar Coin Act of 2008’.”
, , , provided that:

Short Title of 2007 Amendment

Pub. L. 110–82, § 1121 Stat. 777

section 5112 of this titlesection 5112 of this title“This Act [amending and enacting provisions set out as a note under ] may be cited as the ‘Native American $1 Coin Act’.”
, , , provided that:

Short Title of 2005 Amendment

Pub. L. 109–145, § 1119 Stat. 2664

section 5112 of this titlesection 5112 of this title“This Act [amending and enacting provisions set out as notes under ] may be cited as the ‘Presidential $1 Coin Act of 2005’.”
, , , provided that:

Short Title of 2003 Amendment

Pub. L. 108–15, § 1117 Stat. 615

“This Act [amending sections 5112, 5134, and 5135 of this title and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 5112, 5134, and 5135 of this title] may be cited as the ‘American 5-Cent Coin Design Continuity Act of 2003’.”
, , , provided that:

Short Title of 2002 Amendment

Pub. L. 107–201, § 1116 Stat. 736

section 5116 of this title“This Act [amending and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 5112 and 5116 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Support of American Eagle Silver Bullion Program Act’.”
, , , provided that:

Short Title of 2000 Amendment

Pub. L. 106–445, § 1114 Stat. 1931

“This Act [amending sections 5112, 5132 and 5134 of this title] may be cited as the ‘United States Mint Numismatic Coin Clarification Act of 2000’.”
, , , provided that:

Short Title of 1997 Amendment

Pub. L. 105–124, § 1111 Stat. 2534

section 5112 of this titlesection 5112 of this title“This Act [amending and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and ] may be cited as the ‘50 States Commemorative Coin Program Act’.”
, , , provided that:

Pub. L. 105–124, § 4(a)111 Stat. 2536

section 5112 of this titlesection 5112 of this title“This section [amending and enacting provisions set out as notes under ] may be cited as the ‘United States $1 Coin Act of 1997’.”
, , , provided that:

Short Title of 1996 Amendment

Pub. L. 104–329, § 1(a)110 Stat. 4005

section 431 of Title 16“This Act [amending sections 5131 and 5135 of this title and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section, sections 5112 and 5135 of this title, and , Conservation] may be cited as the ‘United States Commemorative Coin Act of 1996’.”
, , , provided that:

Pub. L. 104–329, title III, § 301110 Stat. 4012

“This title [amending sections 5131 and 5135 of this title and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 5112 and 5135 of this title] may be cited as the ‘50 States Commemorative Coin Program Act’.”
, , , provided that:

Short Title of 1992 Amendment

Pub. L. 102–390, title II, § 201106 Stat. 1624

section 709 of Title 18section 5112 of this titlesection 5112 of this title“This title [enacting sections 5134 and 5135 of this title, amending sections 304, 5111, 5112, 5119, 5131, and 5132 of this title and , Crimes and Criminal Procedure, enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 5132 and 5134 of this title, amending provisions set out as notes under , and repealing provisions set out as a note under ] may be cited as the ‘United States Mint Reauthorization and Reform Act of 1992’.”
, , , provided that:

Short Title of 1990 Amendment

Pub. L. 101–585, § 1104 Stat. 2874

section 5132 of this title“This Act [amending ] may be cited as the ‘Silver Coin Proof Sets Act’.”
, , , provided that: