Coining. The privilege of coining money being an exclusive prerogative of the crown, the crime of counterfeiting the king's money, as it was called, was declared to be treason, both by the common law of England and by many statutes. In Scotland, there continued to be some differences in regard to this crime, even after the Union had extended the treason laws of England to that kingdom, and prosecutions were in use to be laid at common law. That practice is now abandoned, and the laws of the two countries were assimilated by a series of statutes, which are codified in the Act of 1861 passed to consolidate the law relating to offences against the coin. All such offences are now prosecuted under this statute. By this act it is a high crime and offence, punishable by penal servitude for life, to counterfeit gold or silver coin; or to colour coin or metal with intent to make it pass for genuine gold or silver coin; or to buy, sell, or import counterfeit gold or silver coin; or unlawfully to make, mend, buy, sell, or possess instruments used in fabricating gold or silver coin; or to convey such instruments out of the mint. To impair or diminish or lighten gold or silver coin (as by clipping or sweating) is punishable with fourteen years. It is an offence punishable with penal servitude for seven years to unlawfully possess gold or silver taken from any coin; or to counterfeit copper coin; or unlawfully to make, mend, buy, sell, or possess instruments for counterfeiting copper coin; or to deal in base British copper coin; or to utter or import base foreign gold or silver coin. Several offences of a less heinous nature are dealt with in the act. In order to bring these offences within the limits of the statute, it is not necessary that the resemblance of the false to the true coin shall be very perfect; but if it be not such as to deceive a person of ordinary observation, the attempt to bring it into circulation is fraud, and not uttering. For false bank-notes, see FORGERY.
In the United States, the crime of counterfeiting coin or money is punishable with fine and imprisonment at hard labour for a term of from two to ten years; and includes falsely making, forging, or counterfeiting coins or notes, postal money orders, postal cards, government stamps of all kinds, and government securities, as also importing, possessing, uttering, or passing false coins or notes with fraudulent intent. Mutilating and debasing the coin is also counterfeiting, but is not so severely punished as the making of counterfeit coins.
For coinage and coins, see MINT, NUMISMATICS, MONEY, BULLION, CURRENCY.