§485 . Coins or bars

Whoever falsely makes, forges, or counterfeits any coin or bar in resemblance or similitude of any coin of a denomination higher than 5 cents or any gold or silver bar coined or stamped at any mint or assay office of the United States, or in resemblance or similitude of any foreign gold or silver coin current in the United States or in actual use and circulation as money within the United States; or

Whoever passes, utters, publishes, sells, possesses, or brings into the United States any false, forged, or counterfeit coin or bar, knowing the same to be false, forged, or counterfeit, with intent to defraud any body politic or corporate, or any person, or attempts the commission of any offense described in this paragraph-

Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than fifteen years, or both.

(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 708 ; July 23, 1965, Pub. L. 89–81, title II, §211(a), 79 Stat. 257 ; Sept. 13, 1994, Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, §330016(1)(K), 108 Stat. 2147 .)

Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., §277 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, §163, 35 Stat. 1119 ).

Reference to persons causing, procuring, aiding or assisting was omitted as unnecessary as such persons are made principals by section 2 of this title.

Mandatory punishment provision was rephrased in the alternative.

The provision for imprisonment for 10 years was changed to 15 years to conform to sections 471 and 472 of this title.

Changes were made in phraseology.

Amendments

1994-Pub. L. 103–322 substituted "fined under this title" for "fined not more than $5,000".

1965-Pub. L. 89–81 struck out "Gold or silver" before "Coins or bars" in section catchline, changed the description of the United States coins covered in first par. from gold or silver coins to any coin of a denomination higher than 5 cents, and made minor structural changes in second par.

Canal Zone

Applicability of section to Canal Zone, see section 14 of this title.

Cross References

Coins and currency generally, see sections 331 to 336 of this title and sections 5111 et seq. and 5131 et seq. of Title 31, Money and Finance.

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in sections 14, 981, 982 of this title.