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 Replies: 8 / Views: 1,669 |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
3692 Posts |
So I'm looking at these Silver Buffalo Rounds, .999 fine. There are different mints that make these exact rounds, with minor differences. They all make me kind of nervous because they look super sketchy and I don't trust them.
Golden State Mint makes a version of them, for example.
Others, though, have the phrase, E PLURIBUS UNUM, and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA on them. So my question here is what is the legality towards those specific rounds. Are they allowed to say that as long as they don't say "Dollar" on them?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2543 Posts |
Yes, once you designate a dollar amount, they become counterfeit money and the Secret Service steps in. (theoretically)
If they are copies,or near copies, of existing coins even without the dollar amount, they may still violate the Hobby Protection Act and must be clearly marked copy. Not that anyone cares , not the treasury, not the Secret Service, nor the local, state , or Fed governments. Law enforcement could care less about the Hobby Protection Act and that is from personal experience.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
899 Posts |
denco7 - that is unless your selling Liberty coins.. I still haven't figured out that entire story.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2543 Posts |
Quote:
denco7 - that is unless your selling Liberty coins.. I still haven't figured out that entire story. They were trying to introduce new coins into the monetary system, that gets their attention. Counterfeiters trying to rip off collectors and cheat hobbyists .............. they could care less ! |
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
Quote:
Law enforcement could care less about the Hobby Protection Act and that is from personal experience. Local law enforcement doesn't really care because its not their area and its very labor intensive over things usually not worth a lot of money. The Secret Service however does care. They dont get to every single one from the simple fact they cant and have to prioritize. While they generally dont care about the one off seller of a fake, they are always interested in trying to find out where it came from. |
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Pillar of the Community
 Canada
3692 Posts |
So in regards to the design of the buffalo and man's profile, which were designed by a specific engraver, do these bullion rounds violate copyrights or are they licensed? ? They're very misleading to new buyers and even to me. I would imagine that a design by the US Mint would be offended by such a bad copy of its work in order to sell bullion. I would certainly charge a commission if someone was selling a product using my design.
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
Its a grey area. Just having that on the coin doesn't necessarily violate the law, you have to look at the whole coin compared to the real ones to make a decision on a case by case basis. Generally speaking assigning a dollar value to them that doesn't specifically say its for store credit somewhere is what gets the feds attention
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3079 Posts |
Here is one way they are getting around "Gun Dollar" what I was told they are good for two dollars at bud's only the sell from $3.00 to $12.95 at gun shows. Go figure!  Along with the MSRP above the 2 "manufactures suggested retail price" |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
2805 Posts |
I can't see a motto being copyrighted. For a nation, it doesn't make sense...
Unfortunately, there seems to be no love or desire for "A MARI USQUE AD MARE" rounds ;(
Edited by nalaberong
05/28/2013 8:26 pm
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Replies: 8 / Views: 1,669 |
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Posted 05/23/2013 10:54 am
