Snagged A U.S. Quarter Cent

[BigSkyGuy]

May be related to the dual coinage system in use at the time. A Spanish "bit" was worth 12 1/2 cents and the medio 6 1/4 cents. Both were commonly used in the 1830s along with US coinage. Often, the medio and the US half dime were used interchangeably, but one party would lose 1 1/4 cents in the exchange. A cent and a cut 1/2 cent added to a US half dime would be a fair exchange for a medio (in theory).

[JCR]

Quite possible. Also taxes had to be paid in hard money.