[capitan_refugio]

Until 1864 the only restrictions on non-federal production of coins was that they had to be silver or gold to be legal tender and they could not be made by a state government. Foreign coins (i.e. "pieces of eight") were also legal tender. They were considered by the federal government to be private coinage. I own one - a California gold piece.

"Individual states" was a poor choice of words on my part. The point remains, coining or printing money is not exclusively a national function. Some would say that today, we don't even use "real money," but rather promissory notes - but that is another discussion

[4CJ]

The Liberty Dollar, certificates backed by gold and silver, or own pure gold and silver coins.