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If you've got (old) US silver coinage, such as silver quarters and silver dollars, then, yes, rest assured that they're still legal tender and will remain so, and you can use them to pay taxes, fines, and (I suppose) every kind of debt. However, if you use them to pay for such governmental demands as taxes or fines then you're an idiot because the govt accepts them in payment only at face value. You can get so much more in FRNs if you sell your silver coins to a collector.
The law says FRNs are legal tender and currency. If they're not money in some recondite philosophical sense, they're good enough for government work.
If you really think that FRNs are valueless, take all you have and dump them in the collection plate at church.
And, going back to the original question, the judge can insist on payment in US currency (including FRNs). From the way the statute reads, I don't think the judge can insist on FRNs to the exclusion of silver coins or US Notes and if you want to pay your fine that way, dollar for dollar at face value, I'm sure the judge will gladly accept it.
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