Secret Service and altered coins

WoodenJefferson

Secret Service link
We all know it's illegal to counterfit a coin/bill but I found the second scentence from the Secret Service web page to be of interest...I would think coin doctoring fits this definition?

TITLE 18 PART I CHAPTER 17 § 331

Anyone who manufactures a counterfeit U.S. coin in any denomination above five cents is subject to the same penalties as all other counterfeiters. Anyone who alters a genuine coin to increase its numismatic value is in violation of Title 18, Section 331 of the United States Code, which is punishable by a fine or imprisonment for up to 5 years, or both.

kevinstang

Hmn, wonder would that apply to the coin doctors who artificially tone coins to up there value? Altered surfaces?

Gemineye

<< <i>Hmn, wonder would that apply to the coin doctors who artificially tone coins to up there value? Altered surfaces? >>


I doubt it ..only for passing off for alteration of face value...

Conder101

Now the whole version including the important parts they left out.

US Code Title 18 Chapter 17 Sec 331

Sec 331 Mutilation, diminution, and falsification of coins

Whosoever fraudulently alters, defaces, mutilates, impairs, diminishes, falsifies, scales, or lightens any of the coins of the United States, or any foreign coins which are by law made current or are in actual use in circulation as money within the United States; or

Whosoever 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, falsified, scaled, or lightened-

Shall be fined not more then $2,000 or imprisoned not more than five years or both.


So once again there must be fraudulent intent. If there is no fraudulent intent there is no crime. Maybe I just like my coins wildly toned.

Also this section has nothing to do with the manufacturing of a counterfeit coin, but rather with altering a genuine coin.

Also there is nothing in here restricting it to coins denominated at 5 cents or higher.

It is a bit of a stretch to make it cover numismatic value since this law is not intended to cover numismatic value. This is a throwback to the days when the coins all had intrinsic value and was originally written to cover the reduction in the METAL value of the coin.