Is it illegal to destroy money?
Illegal if done with the intent to render the currency unfit to be reissued.
While simply disposing of a penny is rarely prosecuted, intentionally destroying or defacing United States currency is a federal crime under Title 18 of the U.S. Code. This law is specifically designed to prevent the fraudulent alteration of money or the reduction of the total money supply through malicious destruction. However, the Treasury Department typically only pursues cases involving significant sums, organized counterfeiting, or fraudulent schemes. For example, 'elongated coin' machines at tourist traps are generally legal because they do not intend to defraud.
RELEVANT LAWS
- 18 U.S.C. § 333Mutilation of national bank obligations
- 18 U.S.C. § 475Imitating obligations or securities; advertisements
- 31 C.F.R. § 82.1Prohibitions on the melting or exportation of cents and 5-cent coins
POTENTIAL PENALTIES
- Fines of up to $500 per incident for defacement
- Up to six months of federal imprisonment
- Total forfeiture of the mutilated currency to the government
- Potential felony charges if destruction is part of a larger counterfeiting operation
JURISDICTION
While this is a federal crime across the entire United States, international laws regarding the destruction of local currency vary significantly by sovereign nation.
The 'penny press' machines found at museums are legal because they are considered artistic souvenirs and do not involve an intent to defraud or profit from the raw metal value.
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