SpecialistAd5537 t1_jadp0j3 wrote
Isn't defacing legal currency a federal crime?
Edit for dummies who like to argue:
Criminal Code of Canada - section 456 - Defacing current coins. 456 Every one who (a) defaces a current coin, or (b) utters a current coin that has been defaced, is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction
Further edit for folks in the US
18 USC 333 18 USC 475 Are equivalent laws prohibiting the defacing of coins and paper money. (However it is legal to write on paper money)
jez7777777 t1_jae6pze wrote
Pretty sure it is, OP should delete this post
Kurotan t1_jae8et9 wrote
Only with the intent to cause fraud. Like changing a $10 bill to a $100 bill or something. People make coin rings and other stuff all the time with no issue.
SpecialistAd5537 t1_jaeak0b wrote
No just defacing is illegal due to it changing the amount of currency in circulation.
Criminal Code of Canada - section 456 - Defacing current coins. 456 Every one who (a) defaces a current coin, or (b) utters a current coin that has been defaced, is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction
Kurotan t1_jaear5g wrote
Well I didn't know Canada law. I only know US law. Thanks for sharing.
SpecialistAd5537 t1_jaeb0iy wrote
That's still wrong 18 USC 333 18 USC 475 are both laws written in the US prohibiting the defacing of coins and money.
Kurotan t1_jaebkr6 wrote
>Federal statute 18 USC 331 “whoever fraudulently alters, defaces, mutilates, impairs, diminishes, falsifies, scales, or lightens any of the coins coined at the mints of the United States … shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.”
Our law specifically mentions fraud. So if we make jewelry, it's okay ( because a coin ring could never be used as currency). If we intend to alter it for fraud, then we are in trouble.
333 specially calls out "bank bill, draft, note, or other evidence of debt", no mention of coins.
475 appears to be a general counterfeit law and also mentions business cards and anything business related on top of making currency from scratch.
SpecialistAd5537 t1_jaec3le wrote
18 USC 333
"Whoever mutilates, cuts, defaces, disfigures, or perforates, or unites or cements together, or does any other thing to any bank bill, draft, note, or other evidence of debt issued by any national banking association, or Federal Reserve bank, or the Federal Reserve System, with intent to render such bank bill, draft, note,or other evidence of debt unfit to be reissued, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both."
Edit for clarity: Coins are evidence of debt issued by either the federal Reserve or national banking system so they are absolutely included.
Kurotan t1_jaecfe8 wrote
"bank bill, draft, note, or other evidence of debt"
None of these are actually coins or bills though.
A bank bill is "a document signed by a bank agreeing to pay the amount that is named on it" and the rest of those are similar. Just documents of agreement to pay or debt.
331 is the one to be concerned with.
SpecialistAd5537 t1_jaecmni wrote
A coin is evidence of debt issued by the national banking system or federal Reserve, how do you think it's not included?
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