Is it illegal to deface US currency?
Illegal if done with the intent to render the currency unfit to be reissued.
Defacing United States currency is a federal crime when performed with the specific intent to render the bill or coin unusable or to defraud. While small alterations like drawing on a bill or 'Where's George' stamps are rarely prosecuted, permanently altering, cutting, or burning money violates federal statutes. The law is primarily designed to prevent counterfeiting and to preserve the integrity of the physical money supply. Consequently, if your actions make a note unfit to circulate, you have technically committed a felony.
RELEVANT LAWS
- 18 U.S.C. § 333Mutilation of national bank notes
- 18 U.S.C. § 331Mutilation, diminution, and falsification of coins
- 31 C.F.R. Part 100Exchange of Paper Currency and Coin
POTENTIAL PENALTIES
- Fines of up to $2,000 per offense
- Imprisonment for up to six months (notes) or five years (coins)
- Seizure and forfeiture of the altered currency
- Criminal record for a federal felony offense
JURISDICTION
This is a federal offense prosecuted by the Department of Justice and the Secret Service, applying uniformly across all U.S. states.
Penny press machines at tourist attractions are legal because they are considered novelty souvenirs and do not involve an intent to defraud or fraudulently alter the value of the metal.
Got a different scenario? Get a custom AI verdict in seconds.
Try it free →RELATED QUESTIONS
- Is it illegal to drive barefoot in Florida?
- Is it illegal to drive without a front license plate?
- Is it illegal to drink alcohol in public?
- Is it illegal to keep a dead body in your house?
- Is it illegal to drive with headphones in California?
- Is it illegal to not have health insurance?
- Is it illegal to let your child drink alcohol at home?
- Is it illegal to be naked in your own house with the windows open?
FOR EDUCATIONAL & ENTERTAINMENT USE ONLY · NOT LEGAL ADVICE