appropriate devices, emblems and inscriptions, commemorative of
the Centennial Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, be
prepared at the mint at Philadelphia for the Centennial Board of
Finance, subject to the provisions of the fifty-second section of
the coinage act of eighteen hundred and seventy-three, upon the
payment of a sum not less than the cost thereof, and all the
provisions whether penal or otherwise of said coinage act against
the counterfeiting or imitating of coins of the United States
shall apply to the medals struck and issued under the provisions
of this act.

Approved June 16, 1874.

_____

_Official Notice Promulgated by the Centennial Board of Finance._

United States Centennial Board of Finance,
Philadelphia, March 24, 1875.

It being deemed essential "that medals, with appropriate devices,
emblems, and inscriptions, commemorative of the centennial
anniversary of the Declaration of Independence," should be
officially issued, the Congress of the United States, by special
act, approved June 16, 1874, directed the same to be prepared at
the Mint for the Centennial Board of Finance, subject to the
provisions of the fifty-second section of the coinage act of
1873, upon the payment of a sum not less than the cost thereof,
and all the provisions, whether penal or otherwise, of said
coinage act against the counterfeiting or imitation of coins of
the United States shall apply to the medals struck and issued
under the provisions of this act. These medals having been
prepared and issued are now being sold by the Centennial Board of
Finance and its agents, and the profits arising therefrom
strictly applied in aid of the preparation for the celebration of
the anniversary which the medals commemorate. They are the only
medals relating to the great events of 1876, officially issued,
and may be readily distinguished from any of the tokens styled
Centennial medals and issued by private parties for their
individual profit, from the fact that in addition to the designs
and other wording, the larger medals have stamped upon them "Act
of Congress, June, 1874," and the others, "By authority of the
Congress of the U. S."

These official medals