Today's the 131st Anniversary of The Bland-Allison Act. I'm sure most people on here know what it is, but for those of you who don't here's a little background: After the Panic of 73', America was in a depression. Many people, (especially those out west) were pushing Congress to once again make silver legal tender. The original bill proposed to the senate by Congressman Richard Bland, had allowed for an unlimited amount of silver to be coined. The Senate refused the original bill, but a more conservative act backed by Senator William Allison was later passed. The Bland-Allison Act as it came to be known, had 3 major terms: The United States Treasury every month had to purchase between 2-4 million dollars in silver. The silver would be purchased on a month to month basis, at market prices. Finally all of the silver that was purchased was to be coined into legal tender U.S silver dollars. George T. Morgan (The new assistant engraver at the mint) design was chosen for the new silver dollars. First called bland dollars, they would later be know as Morgan Silver dollars, and become on of the most popular coins in U.S History. If your interested here are some great links: Bland-Allison Act Morgan Silver Dollar
