18 U.S.C. § 485: Coins or bars

Summary

It is a crime to make or copy fake coins or metal bars that look like U.S. coins worth more than 5 cents, U.S.-stamped gold or silver bars, or foreign gold or silver coins used as money in the United States. It is also illegal to pass, sell, possess, or bring such fakes into the United States, or to try any of those acts, when you know they are fake and mean to cheat a government, company, or person. The punishment can be a fine, up to 15 years in prison, or both.

Title 18, §485

Crimes and Criminal Procedure, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Whoever falsely makes, forges, or counterfeits any coin or bar in resemblance or similitude of any coin of a denomination higher than 5 cents or any gold or silver bar coined or stamped at any mint or assay office of the United States, or in resemblance or similitude of any foreign gold or silver coin current in the United States or in actual use and circulation as money within the United States; or Whoever passes, utters, publishes, sells, possesses, or brings into the United States any false, forged, or counterfeit coin or bar, knowing the same to be false, forged, or counterfeit, with intent to defraud any body politic or corporate, or any person, or attempts the commission of any offense described in this paragraph— Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than fifteen years, or both.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 277 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 163, 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. The provision for imprisonment for 10 years was changed to 15 years to conform to section 471 and 472 of this title. Changes were made in phraseology.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $5,000”. 1965—Pub. L. 89–81 struck out “Gold or silver” before “Coins or bars” in section catchline, changed the description of the United States coins covered in first par. from gold or silver coins to any coin of a denomination higher than 5 cents, and made minor structural changes in second par.

§485 Coins or Bars