§ 486
Uttering coins of gold, silver or other metal
Official text prohibited actmental stateif conditionpenaltylegal term
Whoever, except as authorized by law, makes or utters or passes, or to utter or pass, any coins of gold or silver or other metal, or alloys of metals, intended for use as current money, whether in the resemblance of coins of the United States or of foreign countries, or of original design, shall be [1] or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.
History: (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 709 (PDF, 39 MB); Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, §330016(1)(I), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147 (PDF, 52 MB).)
1 See 1994 Amendment note below.
Simplified explanation
It is a federal crime, unless allowed by law, to make or pass metal coins meant to be used as money, whether they copy U.S. or foreign coins or have an original design.