Maillemaker Posted November 22, 2011 Share Posted November 22, 2011 According to the United States Treasury's website, "Is it illegal to damage or deface coins? 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." So, as long as you're honest, and say, "yes, I used quarters in this mokume, and I'm not planning on selling my creation as silver dollars" you're in the clear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted November 22, 2011 Share Posted November 22, 2011 As long as you don't try to pass them as *coins* you can do what you want with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattBower Posted November 22, 2011 Share Posted November 22, 2011 Correct. There is also a federal regulation that applies specifically to pennies and nickels. It was created a few years ago, when the value of the metal in those coins exceeded their face value, or at least threatened to. Under that regulation, it is unlawful to "export, melt or treat" any penny or nickel. "Treat" means "to smelt, refine, or otherwise treat by heating, or by a chemical, electrical, or mechanical process." There is an exception: "The prohibition contained in § 82.1 against the treatment of 5-cent coins and one-cent coins shall not apply to the treatment of these coins for educational, amusement, novelty, jewelry, and similar purposes as long as the volumes treated and the nature of the treatment makes it clear that such treatment is not intended as a means by which to profit solely from the value of the metal content of the coins."Pennies and nickels generally aren't used in mokume; I mention this only as an aside.http://www.gpo.gov/f...ol1-sec82-1.pdfhttp://www.gpo.gov/f...ol1-sec82-3.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted November 22, 2011 Share Posted November 22, 2011 I use a number of copper pennies to make cowboy hat earrings---amusement, novelty and jewelry! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
781 Posted November 23, 2011 Share Posted November 23, 2011 I have used nickels and copper slugs to make a cheaper version of quarters mokume but then I am one of those tight blacksmiths. You need copper about the same thickness as the nickels for it to look like it was quarters. Thinner copper makes the finished items showing less copper and more nickel which isnt nickel anyway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nakedanvil - Grant Sarver Posted November 23, 2011 Share Posted November 23, 2011 Moumke?????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Smith Posted November 23, 2011 Share Posted November 23, 2011 Why not post me a bunch of coins, and I'll do the same for you. I'm on the other side of the world, heck, currently we're a *day* ahead of you guys. I'd like to see the US treasury prosecute crimes from the future!!! :-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maillemaker Posted November 23, 2011 Author Share Posted November 23, 2011 Moumke?????? Sorry, a little rushed & sleep deprived... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.