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U.S. Mint: 'Silver Surfer' Coin Is Breaking the Law
Goldbully
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LOS ANGELES — A Marvel Comics hero is giving George Washington some company on the quarter, but the U.S. Mint doesn't think the stunt is so super.
To promote the upcoming film "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer," 20th Century Fox and The Franklin Mint altered 40,000 U.S. quarters to feature the character.
The U.S. Mint said in a news release Friday that it learned of the promotional quarter this week and advised the studio and The Franklin Mint they were breaking the law. It is illegal to turn a coin into an advertising vehicle, and violators can face a fine.
"The promotion is in no way approved, authorized, endorsed, or sponsored by the United States Mint, nor is it in any way associated or affiliated with the United States Mint," according to the release. The federal mint did not say whether the studio or the private Franklin Mint would face a penalty.
The altered coins are quarters honoring the state of California that entered circulation in 2005. They feature George Washington on the front, as usual, but a colorized version of the character on the back. All 40,000 are slated to be in circulation throughout the country by the end of Memorial Day weekend, and about 800 were released in each state.
Fans who find the customized quarters can enter a contest online to win prizes and a private screening of the movie.
The Franklin Mint mainly produces collectibles or commemorative medallions. Unlike its other commemorative coins, these aren't being sold, said Franklin Chairman Moshe Malamud. He emphasized that putting the character on the coin didn't alter the integrity of the coin.
"We are very, very protective of the currency of this country. Our goal was to enhance the coin," Malamud said.
Fox spokesman Chris Petrikin said that neither the studio nor The Franklin Mint intended to violate any laws or "suggest that there was any approval from the U.S. Mint or the U.S. Government" for the Silver Surfer coins.
"These are commemorative coins like many the Franklin Mint creates on a regular basis for various properties," he said. "We were confident this coin followed the same procedures and guidelines but will certainly take any necessary steps if advised otherwise."
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To promote the upcoming film "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer," 20th Century Fox and The Franklin Mint altered 40,000 U.S. quarters to feature the character.
The U.S. Mint said in a news release Friday that it learned of the promotional quarter this week and advised the studio and The Franklin Mint they were breaking the law. It is illegal to turn a coin into an advertising vehicle, and violators can face a fine.
"The promotion is in no way approved, authorized, endorsed, or sponsored by the United States Mint, nor is it in any way associated or affiliated with the United States Mint," according to the release. The federal mint did not say whether the studio or the private Franklin Mint would face a penalty.
The altered coins are quarters honoring the state of California that entered circulation in 2005. They feature George Washington on the front, as usual, but a colorized version of the character on the back. All 40,000 are slated to be in circulation throughout the country by the end of Memorial Day weekend, and about 800 were released in each state.
Fans who find the customized quarters can enter a contest online to win prizes and a private screening of the movie.
The Franklin Mint mainly produces collectibles or commemorative medallions. Unlike its other commemorative coins, these aren't being sold, said Franklin Chairman Moshe Malamud. He emphasized that putting the character on the coin didn't alter the integrity of the coin.
"We are very, very protective of the currency of this country. Our goal was to enhance the coin," Malamud said.
Fox spokesman Chris Petrikin said that neither the studio nor The Franklin Mint intended to violate any laws or "suggest that there was any approval from the U.S. Mint or the U.S. Government" for the Silver Surfer coins.
"These are commemorative coins like many the Franklin Mint creates on a regular basis for various properties," he said. "We were confident this coin followed the same procedures and guidelines but will certainly take any necessary steps if advised otherwise."
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TD
It says 800 were released in each state. Any one have any idea how that was done? Change at movie theaters? Change at one of the movies advertizers?
<< <i>Shouldn't that be "CLAD SURFER"???????
TD >>
You are correct!!!
My 13 year old twins and I are really looking forward to seeing the movie this summer...but that coin is just ridiculous!!!
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<< <i>If they are being dropped off in circulation, where did this eBayer get a certificate of authencity?
From his inkjet printer?
<< <i>
<< <i>If they are being dropped off in circulation, where did this eBayer get a certificate of authencity?
From his inkjet printer?
Do you suppose it is the same printer he is using to print the stickers?
eBay search
<< <i>Makes me want one even MORE! >>
You better hurry! The first ones sold on eBay for $25 each on the 24th. Today they are already above $200, in just two days!
I can see why the mint is upset. They could have saved a lot of minting costs by putting president stickers on SBA dollars!
Box of 20
In a link in another thread, it was reported, "The collector's 'Silver Surfer' U.S. quarter will be emblazoned with the image of the legendary Marvel Comics character who takes the leading role in the movie. This legal tender coin is a 2005 California statehood commemorative quarter minted by the United States Mint and specially color-enhanced by The Franklin Mint for Twentieth Century Fox."
So, is it physically altered or just has a sticker?
I am unaware of any law that forbids altering a coin other than with fraudulent intent. And they don't cite the law they are supposedly violating.
<< <i><< If they are being dropped off in circulation, where did this eBayer get a certificate of authenticity? >>
From his inkjet printer? >>
Correct! If you go to the studio website that is promoting the movie and the contest, you can print out a COA from that site.
<< <i>It's a sticker, the coin is not physically altered.
I am unaware of any law that forbids altering a coin other than with fraudulent intent. And they don't cite the law they are supposedly violating.
>>
It's clearly illegal, whether the law is cited or not. The Franklin Mint should have known better.
Reminds me of the "As God as my witness, I thought turkeys could fly" defense.
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<< <i>
<< <i>It's a sticker, the coin is not physically altered.
I am unaware of any law that forbids altering a coin other than with fraudulent intent. And they don't cite the law they are supposedly violating.
>>
It's clearly illegal, whether the law is cited or not. The Franklin Mint should have known better.
Reminds me of the "As God as my witness, I thought turkeys could fly" defense. >>
Is that line from WKRP?
Edited to add: I can't wait for that series to come out on DVD!
<< <i>Edited to add: I can't wait for that series to come out on DVD! >>
The DVD release of WKRP in Cincinnati - Season One has much of the music replaced by generic substitutes. In addition, some scenes have been cut or truncated and voice overs used to avoid using unlicensed musical content. -- wikipedia
I'd guess that these silver surfer coins are legal.
and some may have been superceeded by later law but if the mint can't trot one
out then they can just reinterpret the law in the federal register.
Common sense tells you that the government is unlikely to approve of this sort of
thing. It's a little surprising they moved so quickly though for just 40,000 coins.
There are much bigger things they overlook.
Will these get slabbed as a variety at a TPG?
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<< <i>There are numerous laws against defacing US coinage. >>
True, and all the ones I know include the phrase "With intent to defraud" There are laws against plain defacing of the currency, but I don't know of any on the coinage. If there were then there would have been no reason to create the regulations banning the melting of the cents and five cent pieces because they would have already been covered under the coinage defacement laws.
--Christian
<< <i>People have been doing this for years...I don't see what the big deal is! >>
I wonder if 20th Century Fox realized what the big deal would be? I bet no one turns them in now.
<< <i>
<< <i>There are numerous laws against defacing US coinage. >>
True, and all the ones I know include the phrase "With intent to defraud" There are laws against plain defacing of the currency, but I don't know of any on the coinage. If there were then there would have been no reason to create the regulations banning the melting of the cents and five cent pieces because they would have already been covered under the coinage defacement laws. >>
The problem (normally) isn't with defacing or destroying coins.
It's with defacing them and then recirculating them.
These laws tend to be selectively enforced.
<< <i>
<< <i>
<< <i>There are numerous laws against defacing US coinage. >>
True, and all the ones I know include the phrase "With intent to defraud" There are laws against plain defacing of the currency, but I don't know of any on the coinage. If there were then there would have been no reason to create the regulations banning the melting of the cents and five cent pieces because they would have already been covered under the coinage defacement laws. >>
The problem (normally) isn't with defacing or destroying coins.
It's with defacing them and then recirculating them.
These laws tend to be selectively enforced. >>
The Mint says....
--Christian
<< <i>I just need some good clear pictures some clear mailing labels and some california quarters and I'll make my own!
...seems to be a VERY easy item to counterfeit
60 years into this hobby and I'm still working on my Lincoln set!
<< <i>Reminds me of the "As God as my witness, I thought turkeys could fly" defense. >> >>
You mean turkeys can't fly...even for short distances like chickens do?
- Jim
I saw the link that was posted about "what the Mint says" but the section they quote Title 18 Sec 331 is the wrong one. That was the one I already knew and it only made it illegal if it was done with fraudulent intent. The correct law is Title 18 Sec 475. That is the one that makes it illegal to place any kind of advertisement on a US coin. I posted the actual text of the law in another thread on this subject started by Notlogical.
<< <i>What about www.wheresgeorge.com that is stamped on all the dollar bills? >>
Is anyone making money on or as a result of that?
by Gina Serpe
Wed, 30 May 2007 10:57:23 AM PDT
They wanted unique. They got illegal.
Not content to simply resign their promotions for Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer to the usual breakfast cereal and skywriting variety, the marketing brains at 20th Century Fox went outside the box—and, as it turns out, the law—and ingratiated the Silver Surfer onto some 40,000 U.S. quarters.
Unfortunately, they forgot to tell the U.S. Mint.
Fox first announced the unprecedented marketing move last week and unveiled the limited-edition coins to the press.
While the front of the quarters, and George Washington's visage, remained unaltered, the reverse featured a full-color image of the Silver Surfer character, with the URL for the film's Website.
The coins, which were distributed 800 per state prior to the Memorial Day weekend, were meant to encourage fans who found the quarters to log on to the site and enter to win prizes, including a trip for four to the film's London premiere.
Unfortunately, the illegal tender's artwork, while creative, was carried out by the Franklin Mint without the cooperation, or even awareness, of the government, a point the U.S. Mint was quick to lambaste.
"The promotion is in no way approved, authorized, endorsed, or sponsored by the United States Mint, nor is it in any way associated or affiliated with the United States Mint," the government said in a statement. The feds said they didn't know about the promotion until contacted by the media.
While Fox has copped to launching the campaign without government approval, the studio maintains that it was unaware such sign-off was necessary.
The studio released its own statement saying it did not intend to break the law or "suggest that there was any approval from the U.S. Mint or the U.S. government."
The Franklin Mint, too, said it didn't mean any harm, calling the Silver Surfer quarters "commemorative coins like many the Franklin Mint creates on a regular basis for various properties. We were confident this coin followed the same procedures and guidelines but will certainly take any necessary steps if advised otherwise."
It is a federal crime to turn any form of legal tender into a form of advertising, and violators can face a fine. Then again, the $10,000 in Silver Surfer coins that were distributed throughout the country, along with whatever fine may be assessed, will no doubt be less than what it would cost to generate the same amount of headline-grabbing publicity that the criminal coins have.
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer is due out June 15.
E! Online
<< <i>
<< <i>What about www.wheresgeorge.com that is stamped on all the dollar bills? >>
Is anyone making money on or as a result of that? >>
I don't think so. Look at the wikipedia site, looks like it was made simply as a database tracking experiment? where's george wiki
The interesting part of the site is:
"To increase the chance of having a bill reported, some users (called "Georgers") write or stamp text on the bills encouraging bill finders to visit www.wheresgeorge.com and track the bill's travels. However, the site does not encourage the defacement of U.S. Currency. In April 2000, it was investigated by the United States Secret Service, which informed the webmaster that the selling of "Where's George?" rubber stamps on the web site is considered "advertising" on United States currency, which is illegal under 18 U.S.C. § 475.[2] The web site immediately ceased selling rubber stamps and no further action against the site was taken. However, the general view is that using Where's George? rubber stamps on currency is not illegal per se and a variety are available from stamp vendors not affiliated with the Where's George? web site."
The advertising part must be the key - there are hundreds of thousands of silver eagles with stickers on them, but as the Franklin Mint says, those are commemorative issues (Just not advertisers).
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You Gotta Be Kiddin'
<< <i>Couldn't let the weekend go by without yet another Silver Surfer Quarter post.
You Gotta Be Kiddin'
With how many of them are for sale, it reminds me of the smooth edge GW$s - another in-demand coin
Also goes to show that some coins don't need plastic.