Legal tender : a study in English and American monetary history

This work examines the legal and historical dimensions of the legal-tender power in England and the United States. The work explores the constitutional, legal, and monetary evolution of how governments assign legal-tender status to money, with particular emphasis on its role in private and public transactions. Breckinridge investigates the royal prerogatives in English coinage, parliamentary challenges, and the transition to statutory limitations, alongside the development of American monetary policies under the Continental and federal governments. By analyzing legal cases, constitutional debates, and historical legislation, the study illuminates the complexities of legal-tender power as a tool for economic regulation and sovereign authority, while offering insights into its broader social and political implications.