2019 US Code
Title 18 - Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Part I - Crimes
Chapter 17 - Coins and Currency
Sec. 331 - Mutilation, diminution, and falsification of coins

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Citation 18 U.S.C. § 331 (2019)
Section Name §331. Mutilation, diminution, and falsification of coins
Section Text

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.

Source Credit

(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 700; July 16, 1951, ch. 226, §1, 65 Stat. 121; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, §330016(1)(I), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)

Editorial Notes HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., §279 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, §165, 35 Stat. 1119).

Mandatory punishment provision was rephrased in the alternative.

Reference to persons causing or procuring was omitted as unnecessary in view of definition of "principal" in section 2 of this title.

Changes were also made in phraseology.

AMENDMENTS

1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted "fined under this title" for "fined not more than $2,000".

1951—Act July 16, 1951, made section applicable to minor coins (5-cent and 1-cent pieces), and to fraudulent alteration of coins.

Publication Title United States Code, 2018 Edition, Supplement 1, Title 18 - CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
Category Bills and Statutes
Collection United States Code
SuDoc Class Number Y 1.2/5:
Contained Within Title 18 - CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
PART I - CRIMES
CHAPTER 17 - COINS AND CURRENCY
Sec. 331 - Mutilation, diminution, and falsification of coins
Contains section 331
Date 2019
Laws In Effect As Of Date January 24, 2020
Positive Law Yes
Disposition standard
Statutes at Large References 35 Stat. 1119
62 Stat. 700
65 Stat. 121
108 Stat. 2147
Public Law References Public Law 103-322
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