Beaver coins

(Article I, Section 8 of the United States Constitution declares the mintage of coins to be one of the enumerated powers of the Congress.)

The opening of the United States Mint branch in San Francisco, California made a large supply of gold and silver U.S. currency available, playing a part in the demise of the "Beaver Coins".

The primarily American settler population of the Oregon Country, based in the Willamette Valley since the late 1830s, lacked a stable currency.

A variety of items were held valid by the Provisional Government of Oregon, including specie from Mexico and Peru, beaver skins and wheat.

[4] Legislators from Clackamas and Yamhill counties objected to the bill, stressing the illegality under the U.S. Constitution of private mints.