Question: Is it illegal to deface money?
Answer: United States currency and coinage are governed by federal law through the U.S. Treasury Department. Generally, it is illegal to fraudulently deface, mutilate, impair, diminish, falsify, scales or lightens any coins minted or "coined" in the United States or any foreign coins which are by law made current or are in use or circulation as money within the U.S. (18 U.S.C. 331)
It is also a crime to fraudulently possess, pass, publish, sell or attempt to possess, pass, publish, sell or bring into the U.S. any such coin with knowledge that the coin has been altered, mutilated, defaced, etc. (18 U.S.C. 331)
Defacing currency with the intent to alter the bill to gain a benefit is illegal. If someone alters a written instrument (such as a check) without permission and with the intent to gain a benefit, then it is called forgery, which is a crime. If one tried to alter a cash bill (like changing a $5 bill to a $20 bill) for the purpose of presenting the altered bill to gain a benefit, then that could be considered a forgery. Forgery of United States Currency in this manner is called counterfeiting and carries with it very stiff penalties.
See also Speak Up! Other #370 - What are the consequences for being found guilty of counterfeiting?
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On 06/27/07
Kevin from CO said:
Please take special note of the law itself. It clearly states -- FRAUDULENTLY deface mutilate etc...
It is only FRAUD if you are attempting to gain monetary benefit from defacing money -- i.e. changing a 1 dollar bill into a 10 dollar bill. And again, only if it is a permanent defacing.
Generally, it is illegal to fraudulently deface, mutilate, impair, diminish, falsify, scales or lightens any coins minted or "coined" in the United States or any foreign coins which are by law made current or are in use or circulation as money within the U.S. (18 U.S.C. 331)
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On 01/13/07
Joey from AL said:
Yes, Andrew. Garcia's Trick, "Fraud" makes the bill unusable. Ellusionist is wrong when they say it is legal. They know the bill is legally unusable after the trick has been dune to it. They have told me that in writing.
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On 12/14/06
Jeff from OR said:
Today the U.S. Mint announce it was illegal to melt down the money.
Nowhere does it say they have the legal authority to make such a statement stick. It's apparently not illegal under Title 18 because melting the money is not an attemp to defraud anybody.
But apparently the country has got to the point where an administrative agency can simply make a new criminal law without help from Congress, and nobody thinks this is a bit out of the ordinary.
I think it's over...historians will look back on this decade as the demise of the old U.S. Constitutional Republic.
- Jeff
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On 11/04/06
Andrew from SC said:
So you're telling me that the magic trick "Fraud" By daneil garcia is illegal? It requires a bill to be partially "defaced" by erasing a seal off of the bill.
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On 09/27/06
Steve from FL said:
Is stamping a phrase about the president on a bill considered defacing and subject to penalties? What about if you were trying to make a statement about a bank to tell of your experience with them? Again, would that be considered defacing US currency and thus illegal. Thanks.
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