The mayor and the two houses of legislation of any city having more than one hundred thousand inhabitants, for the purpose of paying any sums of money which it may now or hereafter be required to pay by the judgment or decree of any court, may issue coupon bonds of the city, payable in such lawful money of the United States as they may provide, which shall run for a period not exceeding twenty years, may carry interest payable annually or semiannually, at a rate not exceeding six percent per annum, shall be signed by the mayor, countersigned by the comptroller, attested by the clerk or register, and shall bear the seal of the city.