Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-73
§490 Minor coins
Title 18 › Part PART I— - CRIMES › Chapter CHAPTER 25— - COUNTERFEITING AND FORGERY › § 490
Summary
Making or forging fake U.S. one-cent or five-cent coins (pennies and nickels made by the U.S. Mint), or using, selling, bringing into the country, or even having those fake coins with the goal of cheating someone, is illegal. If convicted, a person can be fined under federal law, put in jail for up to three years, or both.
Full Legal Text
Title 18, §490
Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Whoever falsely makes, forges, or counterfeits any coin in the resemblance or similitude of any of the one-cent and 5-cent coins minted at the mints of the United States; or Whoever passes, utters, publishes, or sells, or brings into the United States, or possesses any such false, forged, or counterfeited coin, with intent to defraud any person, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 278 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 164, 35 Stat. 1119). Reference to persons causing, procuring, aiding or assisting was omitted as unnecessary as such persons are made principals by section 2 of this title. Mandatory punishment provision was rephrased in the alternative. Changes were made in phraseology.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $1,000”. 1984—Pub. L. 98–216 substituted “one-cent and 5-cent coins minted” for “minor coins coined”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 1984 Amendment Pub. L. 98–216, § 4(c), Feb. 14, 1984, 98 Stat. 7, provided that: “The
Amendments
made by section 1(3), (4), and (7) and 3(b)(1) of this Act [amending this section and section 3322, 3528, and 5132 of Title 31, Money and Finance] are effective as of September 13, 1982.”
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
18 U.S.C. § 490
Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73