US Mint disavows colorized and replica coins - jail/fines for AT?

relayer

In my last package from the mint, they put in a piece of paper saying they get a lot of inquires about colorized and replica coins and put this web page on their site.

There's also a link to business info if you want to get your discount on $50k worth of proof sets.

US Mint Consumer Awareness

cladking

Thanks for the link. I find it very interesting they say that it's OK to colorize a US
coin unless it's copyrighted especially in light of the fact that they are attempting
to get this protection for all their coins.

It's also most interesting that they say they don't comment on grade or the invest-
ment potential of their coins. (Almost like they know there's a relationship).

relayer

I like the section about

Helpful Information for Businesses Interested in Altering, Colorizing or Plating U.S. Coins

(Text as of 2/19/02) 18 U.S.C. §331:

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. (Emphasis added.)


I wonder if it applies to coin doctors?