The creation of the United States Mint in 1792 was actually a way more difficult process than you may think.  In fact, one of the proposals was that a cent would be 1440th of a "unit"!  Luckily, Thomas Jefferson saved the day with a decimal system of coinage.  But the focus of this article is the law that actually authorized the Mint into being.  Hence, the Mint Act of April 2, 1792.  In the act, there were 20 sections.  Following is an evaluation of each section: