# The legality of defacing money in different countries? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 26, 2003, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-legality-of-defacing-money-in-different-countries/171281 "2003-04-26T06:11:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JohnClay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c37758/32.png) [@JohnClay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnClay)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2003, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-legality-of-defacing-money-in-different-countries/171281/1 "2003-04-26T06:11:11Z")
Hi, I was wondering what people think of this statement: > [@](#): > > You can’t modify them with intent to defraud, but anything else is officially fair game. Giant twirly moustaches, word balloons reading, “I’m wearing a thong,” yes, even “E Pluribus Unum.” All perfectly legal. What countries is it legal in? What countries is it illegal in? In particular, what about the U.S. and Australia? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2003, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-legality-of-defacing-money-in-different-countries/171281/2 "2003-04-26T11:48:55Z")
From [Reserve Bank of Australia:](http://www.rba.gov.au/CurrencyNotes/LegalFramework/representation.html) > [@](#): > > Section 16 of the Act also prohibits the defacing or destroying of Australian coin or currency notes unless consent has been given by either the Reserve Bank or Treasury. As a general rule, such consent is not given on the grounds that currency notes or coin should not be destroyed or defaced. The legislation covers all Australian currency notes, both present and past. Also, don’t think of doing it to _ours_, [either:](http://www.rbnz.govt.nz/currency/money/0060617-04.html) > [@](#): > > The Reserve Bank Act 1989 says that “No person shall, without the prior consent of the Bank, wilfully deface, disfigure, or mutilate any bank note.” A person can be fined up to $1,000 if caught defacing a bank note. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2003, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-legality-of-defacing-money-in-different-countries/171281/3 "2003-04-26T12:18:54Z")
The squished penny community knows that altering US coins is OK as long as there’s no intent to defraud (i.e. no squishing nickels to look like quarters or nothing). But there’s always dark rumors about Canada. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2003, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-legality-of-defacing-money-in-different-countries/171281/4 "2003-04-26T12:34:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jonathan Chance \* > \*\*But there’s always dark rumors about Canada. \*\* Well, there’s the [Currency Act](http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/C-52/44488.html#rid-44516), which provides: > [@](#): > > **11.** (1) No person shall, except in accordance with a licence granted by the Minister, melt down, break up or use otherwise than as currency any coin that is current and legal tender in Canada. > > (2) Every person who contravenes subsection (1) or any condition attached to a licence referred to in that subsection is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding two hundred and fifty dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding twelve months or to both, and, in addition to any fine or imprisonment imposed, t court may order that the articles by means of or in relation to which the offence was committed be forfeited to Her Majesty. There’s also the [Criminal Code](http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/C-46/41267.html#rid-41327), which provides: > [@](#): > > **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. “The squished penny community”?? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2003, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-legality-of-defacing-money-in-different-countries/171281/5 "2003-04-26T13:10:29Z")
[www.squished.com](http://www.squished.com) baby Know it, love it. ---
**Author:** ![JohnClay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c37758/32.png) [@JohnClay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnClay)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2003, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-legality-of-defacing-money-in-different-countries/171281/6 "2003-04-26T13:35:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jonathan Chance \* > **The squished penny community knows that altering US coins is OK as long as there’s no intent to defraud (i.e. no squishing nickels to look like quarters or nothing)…** What about writing and drawing things on U.S. paper money? ---
**Author:** ![JohnClay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c37758/32.png) [@JohnClay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnClay)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2003, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-legality-of-defacing-money-in-different-countries/171281/7 "2003-04-26T13:39:53Z")
The [Squished Penny Museum](http://www.squished.com/featuresnew/features_101.html) site says > [@](#): > > The United States law Section 331, Title 18 prohibits altering coins or other forms of money for fraudulent uses. On the other hand, it does permit the altering of coins, such as pennies, without such intentions… **they are no longer currency.** What about U.S. paper money? If it is legal to deface it, is it legal tender that other people should/must accept? ---
**Author:** ![Shade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@Shade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shade)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2003, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-legality-of-defacing-money-in-different-countries/171281/8 "2003-04-26T13:47:12Z")
Is ‘defacing’ drawing anything on it, or just something rude, or obliterating the printed value, or something? I’ve seen notes (here in UK) with a number handwritten on (presumably from when some shop was counting them or something). How about if its accidently torn/washed? ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2003, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-legality-of-defacing-money-in-different-countries/171281/9 "2003-04-26T13:53:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jonathan Chance \* > \*\*[www.squished.com](http://www.squished.com) baby > > Know it, love it. \*\* Truly, I learn something new everytime I come to the SDMB. Who knew that Canada’s oppresive anti-squishing laws were shutting us out from the international squishing community?!?! It’s Jean Chrétien’s fault! ---
**Author:** ![stuyguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@stuyguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stuyguy)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2003, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-legality-of-defacing-money-in-different-countries/171281/10 "2003-04-26T14:50:10Z")
> [@](#): > > Section 16 of the Act also prohibits the defacing or destroying of Australian coin or currency notes unless consent has been given by either the Reserve Bank or Treasury. As a general rule, such consent is not given… Makes you wonder how many letters they get like: “Dear sir or madame, In accordance with Sect. 16 of the Banking Laws of Australia I am writing to request your institution’s permission to draw a giant twirly moustache and a word balloon reading, “I’m wearing a thong,” on Queen Elizabeth II’s portrait on a $5 note (#DI74739921) currently in my possession.” ---
**Author:** ![xicanorex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/a88e57/32.png) [@xicanorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xicanorex)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2003, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-legality-of-defacing-money-in-different-countries/171281/11 "2003-04-26T15:16:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JohnClay \* > \*\*Hi, I was wondering what people think of this statement: > What countries is it illegal in? In particular, what about the U.S. and Australia? Thanks. \*\* For some reason or other, I am not able to access Banco de Mexico which should have the regulations on defacing money. IIRC, it’s illegal to deface money and/or cut/disfigure coin&paper money. Also, and I have to access that information later, the money that is defaced and/or cut becomes null and void. So, cashiers have to be careful when receving money and vice versa. I believe the law is of recent making (IIRC late '80’s) as one tactict used by the opposition parties (specifically here PAN), was stamping pro-democracy messages in paper bills. XicanoreX ---
**Author:** ![JohnClay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c37758/32.png) [@JohnClay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnClay)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2003, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-legality-of-defacing-money-in-different-countries/171281/12 "2003-04-28T03:16:23Z")
from [The Bureau of Engraving and Printing](http://www.bep.treas.gov/document.cfm/18/104): > [@](#): > > Defacement of currency is a violation of Title 18, Section 333 of the United States Code. Under this provision, currency defacement is generally defined as follows: Whoever mutilates, cuts, disfigures, perforates, 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, Federal Reserve Bank, or Federal Reserve System, with **intent** to render such item(s) unfit to be reissued, shall be fined not more than $100 or imprisoned not more than six months, or both. > > Defacement of currency in such a way that it is made unfit for circulation comes under the jurisdiction of the United States Secret Service. Their address is: United States Secret Service, 1800 G Street, N. W., Washington, DC 20223. It doesn’t say if drawing moustaches, etc, makes it unfit for circulation - and doesn’t say that people’s whose intent for the defaced money to recirculate are doing anything illegal.