Whoever fraudulently alters, defaces, mutilates, impairs, diminishes, falsifies, scales, or lightens any of the coins coined at the mints of the United States, or any foreign coins which are by law made current or are in actual use or circulation as money within the United States; or
Whoever fraudulently possesses, passes, utters, publishes, or sells, or attempts to pass, utter, publish, or sell, or brings into the United States, any such coin, knowing the same to be altered, defaced, mutilated, impaired, diminished, falsified, scaled, or lightened—
Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.
June 25, 1948, ch. 64562 Stat. 700July 16, 1951, ch. 226, § 165 Stat. 121Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(I)108 Stat. 2147(, ; , ; , , .)
Historical and Revision Notes
Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 16535 Stat. 1119Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 279 (, ).
Mandatory punishment provision was rephrased in the alternative.
section 2 of this titleReference to persons causing or procuring was omitted as unnecessary in view of definition of “principal” in .
Changes were also made in phraseology.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
Pub. L. 103–3221994— substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $2,000”.
1951—Act , made section applicable to minor coins (5-cent and 1-cent pieces), and to fraudulent alteration of coins.