Legality of coin
cutting:
Section 331. Title 18, U.S. CODE:
Prohibits among other things the fraudulent alteration and
mutilation of United States and foreign coins. This statute does not
prohibit the mutilation of coins if done without fraudulent intent
or if the mutilated coins are not used
fraudulently.
In
other words.. it's not cutting them that is illegal.. it is cutting
them with intent to defraud that is
illegal.
Cutting coins for the sake of making necklaces is
legal!
People ask, "exactly what would be a fradulent intent to
alter coins?"
One
example would be.. taking a coin, and altering the mint mark, or
some other part, to make it look like a misprint from the mint.
Rare, and error coins are sometimes worth quite a bit. It would be a
clear "fradulent" intent to alter a mint mark, in attempts to
increase the value of the coin. It would be like trying to pass off
something worth 10 cents, as something worth 10 dollars. Clearly
fraud in anyones opinion.
I am
sometimes told.. well you are taking a quarter, and selling it for
10 dollars. Yes, but there is no intent to defraud on my part. I do
not alter a coin to decieve anyone on the actual value of the coin.
I charge strickly for the art involved. I have never tried to pass
of my work as anything other then art. With my work, the intent is
clear. I am making a (hopefully) beautiful necklace, and charging
people for the work involved. This is not fraud, or any attempt to
defraud. It is therefore legal.
