Title 15, Commerce and TradeRelease 119-110

§2101 Marking Requirements

Title 15 › CHAPTER 48 — HOBBY PROTECTION › § 2101

Last updated Sep 23, 2026|Official source

Summary

Manufacturers or importers of fake political items must mark them clearly and permanently with the calendar year they were made. Makers, importers, or sellers of fake coins or coin-like items must mark them clearly and permanently with the word "copy". The Federal Trade Commission will make rules about how those marks must be shown. Anyone who gives substantial help to someone breaking these marking rules is also breaking the law if they knew or should have known. Common carriers, contract carriers, and freight forwarders are not covered when they just handle or ship these items in the normal course of business.

Full Legal Text

Title 15, §2101

Commerce and Trade, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Political items
The manufacture in the United States, or the importation into the United States, for introduction into or distribution in commerce of any imitation political item which is not plainly and permanently marked with the calendar year in which such item was manufactured, is unlawful and is an unfair or deceptive act or practice in commerce under the Federal Trade Commission Act [15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.].
(b)Coins and other numismatic items
The manufacture in the United States, or the importation into the United States, for introduction into or distribution in commerce, or the sale in commerce of any imitation numismatic item which is not plainly and permanently marked “copy”, is unlawful and is an unfair or deceptive act or practice in commerce under the Federal Trade Commission Act [15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.].
(c)Rules and regulations
The Federal Trade Commission shall prescribe rules for determining the manner and form in which items described in subsection (a) or (b) shall be permanently marked.
(d)Provision of assistance or support
It shall be a violation of subsection (a) or (b) for a person to provide substantial assistance or support to any manufacturer, importer, or seller if that person knows or should have known that the manufacturer, importer, or seller is engaged in any act or practice that violates subsection (a) or (b).
(e)Exemption
Subsections (a) (b), and (d), and regulations under subsection (c), shall not apply to any common carrier or contract carrier or freight forwarder with respect to an imitation political item or imitation numismatic item received, shipped, delivered, or handled by it for shipment in the ordinary course of its business.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Federal Trade Commission Act, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (b), is act Sept. 26, 1914, ch. 311, 38 Stat. 717, which is classified generally to subchapter I (§ 41 et seq.) of chapter 2 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 58 of this title and Tables.

Amendments

2014—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 113–288, § 2(1)(A), inserted “, or the sale in commerce” after “distribution in commerce”. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 113–288, § 2(1)(B), added subsec. (d). Former subsec. (d) redesignated (e). Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 113–288, § 2(1)(B), (C), redesignated subsec. (d) as (e) and substituted “(b), and (d)” for “and (b)”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Pub. L. 93–167, § 8, Nov. 29, 1973, 87 Stat. 687, provided that: “This Act [enacting this chapter] shall apply only to imitation political items and imitation numismatic items manufactured after the date of enactment of this Act [Nov. 29, 1973].”

Short Title

of 2014 Amendment Pub. L. 113–288, § 1, Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3281, provided that: “This Act [amending this section and section 2102 and 2106 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Collectible Coin Protection Act’.”

Short Title

Pub. L. 93–167, § 1, Nov. 29, 1973, 87 Stat. 686, provided: “That this Act [enacting this chapter] may be cited as the ‘Hobby Protection Act’.”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

15 U.S.C. § 2101

Title 15, Commerce and Trade

Last Updated

Sep 23, 2026

Release point: 119-110