CHAPTER XXXI

   

COUNTERFEITING OF COINS.

 

CONTENTS.

 

SECTION 1.  Counterfeiting defined.

2.   Diminishing coin.

3.   Washing or coloring coin.

4.   Uttering defined.

5.   Coin defined.

6.   Punishment for counterfeiting; and for uttering in confederacy the counterfeiter.

7.   Punishment for uttering or having tea or inure pieces in possession with intent to utter.

8.   Punishment where the number of pieces in possession is less than a ton.

9.   Punishment for uttering where the coin was received as genuine by the utterer.

10. Punishment for making implements for counterfeiting.

11. Punishment fur second offense.

 

1.  Counterfeiting is the fraudulent making, or assisting in the making of a resemblance of coin, of less intrinsic value than the genuine coin of which it is a resemblance, with the intent that the same shall be uttered, or put in circulation.

 

2.  Whoever shall fraudulently diminish the coin by clipping, filing, boring or abrading it, or otherwise taking away a part of any true and genuine coin, and substituting a metal or substance of less intrinsic value in place of the part so taken away, or without such substitution with the intent that the same so diminished in quality or intrinsic value, shall thereupon be uttered as and for true and genuine coin, is guilty of counterfeiting, within the meaning of the provisions of this chapter.

 

3.  Whoever shall add to true and genuine coin, by washing, coloring or otherwise, any metal or substance so as to make it a resemblance of coin of a greater intrinsic value, with the intent that it shall thereupon be uttered as and for true and genuine coin, is guilty of counterfeiting, within the meaning of the provisions of this chapter.

 

4.  The fraudulently putting counterfeit coin into circulation passing it, or tendering it, or offering to pass it, as being true and genuine, or aiding therein, knowing the same to be counterfeit, is uttering the same; so also the selling, passing, delivery or parting with counterfeit coin as such; with the intent that the same shall be, or with sufficient ground to believe that the same will be thereupon passed, tendered, or offered to be passed as true and genuine, is uttering the same.

 

5.  The term coin, or trite and genuine coin, as used in this chapter, includes only gold or silver money, or money of which gold or silver, or both, are the principal constituent parts, current by law or usage.

 

6. Whoever is guilty of counterfeiting, or of uttering any counterfeit coin, being in confederacy with the counterfeiter, or being himself the counterfeiter thereof, shall be punished by, imprisonment at hard labor for life, or any number of years, in the discretion of the court..

 

7.  Whoever is guilty of uttering any counterfeit coin; or of having in his possession ten or more pieces of counterfeit coin, knowing the same to be counterfeit, with the intent to utter the same as true and genuine, shall be punished by imprisonment at hard labor not more than twenty years, or by fine not exceeding one thousand dollars, and imprisonment at hard labor not more than five years. 

 

8.  Whoever is guilty of having in his possession any number of pieces of counterfeit coin less than ten knowing the same to be counterfeit, with the intent to utter the same as true and genuine, shall be punished by imprisonment at hard labor not more than ten years, or by fine not exceeding five hundred dollars, and imprisonment at bard labor not more than two years.

 

9.  Whoever utters counterfeit coin, knowing the same to be such having received the same in good faith as true and genuine, upon legal and valid consideration, shall be punished by imprisonment  at hard labor not more than five years or by fine not exceeding one thousand dollars.

 

 

10.  Whoever knowingly casts, stamps, makes, or mends, or knowingly has in his possession any mould, pattern, die or other tool or machine adapted and designed for counterfeiting coin, with intent to use or employ the same, or cause or permit the same to be used or employed, for counterfeiting coin, shall be punished by imprisonment at hard labor not more than twenty years, or by fine not exceeding one thousand dollars, and imprisonment at hard labor not more than five years.

 

11.  Whoever, having been once convicted of any of the offenses provided against in this chapter, shall thereafter be convicted of any or either of such offenses committed after such former conviction, shall be punished by an additional like punishment, not exceeding by more than one half, the punishment for the offense of which he is last so convicted.