| Author |
 Replies: 9 / Views: 26,825 |
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
864 Posts |
Hi, I've been googling to try and find out the laws and rules about Canadian coins used and/or altered for jewelry. I imagine some use is ok because I always see coin rings, plus my ex was a goldsmith and made a lot of custom design ordered special coins rings set in precious metal for some customers. He didn't ever alter or change the coins surfaces at all, just bezel set them in designs he hand carved and cast. I thought there was a law against altering and using Canadian coins, but the coin rings openly made and sold say different, so I'm confused about just what the rules are here. Does anyone know whats ok and whats not regarding use of coins for uses other than currency? Thanks  |
|
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
2408 Posts |
The RCM does it... Not sure about Canadian Laws, but in the US: Sec. 333. Mutilation of national bank obligations -STATUTE- Whoever mutilates, cuts, defaces, disfigures, or perforates, or 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, or Federal Reserve bank, or the Federal Reserve System, with intent to render such bank bill, draft, note, or other evidence of debt unfit to be reissued, shall be fined
under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.  |
|
Pillar of the Community
 Canada
864 Posts |
Hey, thank you Canadian_Coins. I read your reply a bit earlier and went off googling. I found this bit mentioned in the RCM sites FAQ's area: --- The Currency Act and The Canadian Criminal Code clearly state that no person shall melt down, break up or use otherwise than as currency any coin that is legal tender in Canada. --- That doesn't explain the open and public making, advertizing, flogging and selling of jewelry or other novelty items using real coins though. Kind of a contradiction. What set me off was seeing a jewelry site online where a woman was offering earings made from real circulating Canadian pennies, she openly states they are real ones, and she altered the surfaces, partial plating with gold etc, plus drilled holes in them for the ear wire hooks. Just thought I'd like to know the real rules around this. My first thought was geez did she destroy a valuable variety cent?  Just shows I've been bit by the coins bug. Edited by Dottir
09/05/2010 01:25 am
|
|
Moderator
 Australia
16816 Posts |
That US Law is about paper money. As far as I can tell, American laws are much more liberal in this regard than laws in most other countries. There's provision for a blanket ban on melting a denomination for profit, currently in force for 1c and 5c coins. I believe there's also some kind of law preventing people attaching advertising stickers to coins, as was briefly fashionable a few decades ago. But apart from that, US coins are fair game. In Canada, things are different because, like here in Australia, you're a monarchy; by ancient tradition the coinage is technically Crown property. Section 11(1) of the Canadian Currency Act currently reads: Quote:
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. Anyone in Canada that's making rings out of, turning into jewellery, or using "otherwise than as currency" any Canadian coin is technically breaking the law. The penalty if they catch you: Quote:
...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, the court may order that the articles by means of or in relation to which the offence was committed be forfeited to Her Majesty. It wasn't that long ago that defacing a coin was considered treason. So be thankful they don't hang you for it.  Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
864 Posts |
Well, coins used in jewelry and souvenirs novelty items are highhandedly taken out of circulation I guess :) Interesting info about the treason and hanging. People do tend to get testy about money. And I wouldn't want to diss our Queen Elizabeth by disrespecting currency with her image. Edited by Dottir
09/05/2010 02:22 am
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
I have seen a ring made from a silver coin, which was holed in the middle, then hammered out on a mandrel into a ring. Totally unrecognisable insofar as the coin from which it was derived.
The Law would have trouble with that, unless you were caught red handed in the making of the ring.
Edited by sel_69l
09/05/2010 02:43 am
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
864 Posts |
I've never seen one of those made. Interesting. Only reasons I can think of why someone would go to those is lengths is not having a full workshop for casting or couldn't spring for the silver to cast. Or just a novelty wanted to see how it would turn out. I know lots of people were into making silver spoon rings but they kept the obvious spoon handle designs.
I'm thinking I'll just fire off an email to the mint and ask them about coins use, and see what they come back at me with.
|
|
New Member
Canada
1 Posts |
Hi I am still attempting to get clarification on whether it is legal to use old coins for rings. The phrase that was quoted on the Canadian law reads in brief that coins may not be altered if it is "any coin that is current and legal tender in Canada". What constitutes "current"? would that include coins no longer circulated such as Canadian silver content coins?
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
Canada
10743 Posts |
All Canadian coinage is legal tender, that means I could spend a 1908 fifty cent piece, and the clerk has to accept it... Not, that I would spend a 1908 fifty cent piece though... |
|
Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
Bullion coin is often advertised in reference to the 'melt' value. One wonders how the mint knows if silver had been derived from melted coins, unless they are informed by a member of the public.
Surely, melting a coin must be mutilating it. Equally surely, I'll bet that that there are plenty of people who could not care less that they are interfering with the coinage by melting it, both inside and outside the U.S.
|
| |
Replies: 9 / Views: 26,825 |
|
Posted 09/05/2010 01:23 am
