is it legal to make jewellry out of coins (legal tender)?
By cher913
@cher913 (25782)
Canada
5 responses
@raydene (9871)
• United States
23 Jan 08
I looked it up and found
Quote"U.S. Code is 18 U.S.C. ยง331 reads: "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.]" and this "Section 331 of Title 18 of the United States code provides criminal penalties for anyone who 'fraudulently alters, defaces, mutilates impairs, diminishes, falsifies, scales, or lightens any of the coins coined at the Mints of the United States. This statute means that you may be violating the law if you change the appearance of the coin and fraudulently represent it to be other than the altered coin that it is. As a matter of policy, the U.S. Mint does not promote coloring, plating or altering U.S. coinage: however, there are no sanctions against such activity absent fraudulent intent. (Source U.S. Mint)" What do you get from that?
xoxoxo
1 person likes this
@HUNTERSMOM (47)
• United States
23 Jan 08
There are a lot of laws that or on the books that the police really do not come after you. If it were me I would go for it. Good Luck!
@creationsbyrobin (3071)
• United States
23 Jan 08
A headache...lol Nothing like the US government spelling it out so only a lawyer can understand...maybe.
I have seen a few pieces of jewelry made with US coins over the last couple of years (mostly pennies-which the government mostly destroys anyway) So I don't think you'll get in much trouble for doing this on a small scale.
Of course, if the government is looking for you for some reason, they could use this against you ; )
Great thread!!
@mykidsnme (19)
• Australia
22 Jan 08
I can't really answer you question,but it has made me wonder, my brother-in-law dug up a sixpence in his garden,it was minted in the year I was born so he gave it to me. I was intending to get something made from it so I could wear it. Now I don't know, I will wait for more responses.
@mykidsnme (19)
• Australia
24 Jan 08
Thanks for that, I was thinking along those lines. I think you can use the coins as long as they are not de-faced.
@qbranchltd (129)
• United States
22 Jan 08
This depends upon the laws in the country that you are in. In the US you can create jewelry from coins, I believe, in a limited quantity.
1 person likes this
