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 Replies: 64 / Views: 11,881 |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10635 Posts |
Quote:
You realize that using coins in commerce causes wear to their surfaces and that is defacing them as well? Coins in commerce is called circulation. Scratching and knowingly gouging the surface of a coin is wrongful defacing, and those who do it should be ashamed of themselves, and the practice should not be encouraged. Les |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7629 Posts |
I don't know where you read it was illegal to deface coins. Let me know what section and paragraph in the US Code that is written. I want to see it.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10635 Posts |
Besides being morally wrong, defacing coins is against the law: Quote:
United States Code
TITLE 18
PART I
CHAPTER 17
§ 331. Mutilation, diminution, and falsification of coins
Whoever fraudulently alters, defaces, mutilates, impairs, diminishes,
falsifies, scales, or lightens any of the coins coined at the mints of the United States, or any foreign coins which are by law made current or are in actual use or circulation as money within the United States; or whoever fraudulently possesses, passes, utters, publishes, or sells, or attempts to pass, utter, publish, or sell, or brings into the United States, any such coin, knowing the same to be altered, defaced, mutilated, impaired, diminished, falsified, scaled, or lightened Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both. So, it appears that not only is the making of hobo nickels illegal. it is against the law to own or resell them! Defacing coins comes under the jurisdiction of the United States Secret Service. Les |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10635 Posts |
Some might say creating hobo nickles is a form of creative expression... well, so is graffiti on the walls of city streets. Is painting graffiti a lawful activity? No difference.
Les
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Quote:
So, it appears that not only is the making of hobo nickels illegal. it is against the law to own or resell them! Defacing coins comes under the jurisdiction of the United States Secret Service.
Les
Oddly enough that branch of the government has a few other responsibilities besides chasing after coin altering people. Like I said if it is against the law, Brookfield Zoo would have to be shut down. Those coin altering machines are all over the place. I haven't been there in while but a few Museums by me too have those machines. Do you suppose that the government doesn't know about those? Picture this now. The US President is visiting a Zoo with his family and the place gets raided for coin altering machines.  Then his kids are arrested for using them. Ever see those Cents with Kennedy added. Those were being sold all over the country and maybe even in a home of a Secret Service person. And it is illigal to spit on a public sidewalk where I live but so far no spitting police ever show up. Edited by just carl
08/27/2011 7:55 pm
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5953 Posts |
The second word of the statement is the key..
You can do what you wish to coins as long as the is no fraudulent intent.
I can cut a dime and as long as I don't claim it to be something else no crime...
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10635 Posts |
Quote:
You can do what you wish to coins as long as the is no fraudulent intent.
I can cut a dime and as long as I don't claim it to be something else no crime...
Wow. Where is the ethical responsibility? Also, isn't defacing in any form disrespectful? Shame on you for protecting this unlawful behaviour by trying to find loopholes in the wording and encouraging it. Les |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1080 Posts |
Not unlawful. The Smithsonian Institute, operated by the US Government, sells elongated pennies.
Creating hobo nickels, elongated cents, coin rings, earrings, etc. INCREASES the value of these coins. It is our ethical duty to create these pieces. The added value feeds the economy. We are being good stewards when we turn a 13-cent dateless buffalo into a $20 hobo nickel.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1080 Posts |
 US government owned penny-defacing machines. Alert the Militia! Edited by specksynder
08/27/2011 11:21 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10635 Posts |
United States Code
TITLE 18
PART I
CHAPTER 17
§ 331. Mutilation, diminution, and falsification of coins
Whoever fraudulently alters, defaces, mutilates, impairs, diminishes,
falsifies, scales, or lightens any of the coins coined at the mints of the United States, or any foreign coins which are by law made current or are in actual use or circulation as money within the United States; or whoever fraudulently possesses, passes, utters, publishes, or sells, or attempts to pass, utter, publish, or sell, or brings into the United States, any such coin, knowing the same to be altered, defaced, mutilated, impaired, diminished, falsified, scaled, or lightened Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.
You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink. Good luck guys.
Les
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1080 Posts |
Quote:...Classic hobo nickels are considered American folk art and have a speculated value, said Richard Doty, curator of numismatics at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.... Altering a Buffalo nickel is not illegal if there is no fraudulent intent, said Mike White, a spokesman for the U.S. Mint in Washington, D.C. Specifically, the altered coins cannot be represented as a product of the mint, nor can a hobo nickel be used as currency, White said. http://www.hobonickels.org/conley04.htm What will it take to convince you? Look up the definition of fraud. (There is NO misrepresentation, there is no legal injury.) Listen to US Mint spokesman. Observe the US Government owning and operating elongating machines. What evidence would you like? Or are you admitting that you have made up your mind and will not listen to any facts that don't match your world view? Edited by specksynder
08/27/2011 07:07 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1080 Posts |
Quote:
Posted Today -33 Min ago Dude! We are reading posts from the future! Quick, someone post the silver price so I can make my move! |
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Valued Member
United States
52 Posts |
I just wish that dang VanGogh guy wouldn't have wasted all that good sailmaking canvas. Somebody should have strung him up for that!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
580 Posts |
If hobo nickels were illegal, ebay would not allow them to be sold. ebay has strict rules for "illegal" coins. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7629 Posts |
You people are trying to apply a piece of code used to stop people from shaving gold and silver off coins to artful carving on nickels. Good thing the feds are a little more insightful.
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Replies: 64 / Views: 11,881 |
First Page
Posted 08/27/2011 6:53 pm
