31 U.S.C.
United States Code, 2023 Edition
Title 31 - MONEY AND FINANCE
SUBTITLE IV - MONEY
CHAPTER 51 - COINS AND CURRENCY
SUBCHAPTER V - MISCELLANEOUS
From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov

### SUBCHAPTER V—MISCELLANEOUS

### §5151. Conversion of currency of foreign countries

(a) In this section—

(1) "buying rate" means the buying rate in the market in New York, New York, for cable transfers payable in the currency of a foreign country to be converted.

(2) when merchandise is exported on a day that banks are generally closed in New York, the buying rate at noon on the last prior business day is deemed to be the buying rate at noon on the day the merchandise is exported.

(b) The value of coins of a foreign country expressed in United States money is the value of the pure metal of the standard coin of the foreign country. The Secretary of the Treasury shall estimate the values of standard coins of the country quarterly and publish the values on the first day of January, April, July, and October of each year.

(c) Except as provided in this section, conversion of currency of a foreign country into United States currency for assessment and collection of duties on merchandise imported into the United States shall be made at values published by the Secretary under subsection (b) of this section for the quarter in which the merchandise is exported.

(d) If the Secretary has not published a value for the quarter in which the merchandise is exported, or if the value published by the Secretary varies by at least 5 percent from a value measured by the buying rate at noon on the day the merchandise is exported, the conversion of the currency of the foreign country shall be made at a value—

(1) equal to the buying rate at noon on the day the merchandise is exported; or

(2) prescribed by regulation of the Secretary for the currency that is equal to the first buying rate certified for that currency by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York under subsection (e) of this section in the quarter in which the merchandise is exported, but only if the buying rate at noon on the day the merchandise is exported varies less than 5 percent from the buying rate first certified.

(e) The Federal Reserve Bank of New York shall decide the buying rate and certify the rate to the Secretary. The Secretary shall publish the rate at times and to the extent the Secretary considers necessary. In deciding the buying rate, the Bank may—

(1) consider the last ascertainable transactions and quotations (direct or through exchange of other currencies); and

(2) if there is no buying rate, calculate the rate from—

(A) actual transactions and quotations in demand or time bills of exchange; or

(B) the last ascertainable transactions and quotations outside the United States in or for exchange payable in United States currency or foreign currency.

(Pub. L. 97–258, Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 991.)

Historical and Revision Notes
Revised Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large)
--- | --- | ---
5151(a) | 31:372(c)(2)(1st sentence), (3). | June 17, 1930, ch. 497, §522(c), 46 Stat. 740; restated Aug. 2, 1956, ch. 887, §3, 70 Stat. 946.
5151(b) | 31:372(a). | Aug. 27, 1894, ch. 349, §25, 28 Stat. 552; May 27, 1921, ch. 14, §403(a), 42 Stat. 17; restated June 17, 1930, ch. 497, §522(a), 46 Stat. 739.
5151(c) | 31:372(b). | June 17, 1930, ch. 497, §522(b), 46 Stat. 740.
5151(d) | 31:372(c)(1). |
5151(e) | 31:372(c)(2)(2d, last sentences). |

In subsection (b), the words "United States money" are substituted for "money of account" for consistency in the chapter. The words "standard coins of the country" are substituted for "values of standard coins in circulation of the various nations of the world" to eliminate unnecessary words. The words "Secretary of the Treasury" are substituted for "Director of the Mint" because of the source provisions restated in section 321(c) of the revised title.

In subsection (c), the words "on or after June 17, 1930" are omitted as executed.

In subsection (d)(1), the words "buying rate at noon on the day the merchandise is exported" are substituted for "such buying rate" for clarity.

In subsection (d)(2), the words "that is equal to" are substituted for "at a value measured by" because of the restatement.

In subsection (e)(2), the words "buying rate" are substituted for "market buying rate for such cable transfers" to eliminate unnecessary words.

### §5152. Value of United States money holdings in international institutions

The Secretary of the Treasury shall maintain the value in terms of gold of the holdings of United States money of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Inter-American Development Bank, the International Development Association, and the Asian Development Bank to the extent provided in the articles of agreement of those institutions. Amounts necessary to maintain the value may be appropriated. Amounts appropriated under this section remain available until expended.

(Pub. L. 97–258, Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 992.)

Historical and Revision Notes
Revised Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large)
--- | --- | ---
5152 | 31:449a. | Mar. 31, 1972, Pub. L. 92–268, §3, 86 Stat. 117.

The word "money" is substituted for "dollars" for consistency in the revised title. The words "the International Monetary Fund" are omitted as obsolete because of section 9 of the Act of October 19, 1976 (Pub. L. 94–564, 90 Stat. 2661).

### §5153. Counterfeit currency

Disbursing officials of the United States Government and officers of national banks shall stamp or mark the word "counterfeit", "altered", or "worthless" on counterfeit notes intended to circulate as currency that are presented to them. An official or officer wrongfully stamping or marking an item of genuine United States currency (including a Federal reserve note or a circulating note of Federal reserve banks and national banks) shall redeem the currency at face value when presented.

(Pub. L. 97–258, Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 992.)

Historical and Revision Notes
Revised Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large)
--- | --- | ---
5153 | 31:424. | June 30, 1876, ch. 156, §5, 19 Stat. 64.

The words "Disbursing officials" are substituted for "officers charged with the receipt or disbursement of public moneys" for consistency in the revised title and other titles of the United States Code. The word "mark" is substituted for "write in plain letters" to eliminate unnecessary words. The words "counterfeit notes intended to circulate as currency" are substituted for "all fraudulent notes issued in the form of, and intended to circulate as money" for consistency in the revised title and with other titles of the Code. The last sentence is substituted for the words following the semicolon in 31:424 for clarity and to reflect the legislative history of the derivative source. See 4 Cong. Rec. 2225–2228, 3148. In that sentence, the words "United States currency (including a Federal reserve note or a circulating note of Federal reserve banks and national banks)" are substituted for "any genuine note of the United States, or of the national banks" for consistency with section 5103 of the revised title.

### §5154. State taxation

A State or a territory or possession of the United States may tax United States coins and currency (including Federal reserve notes and circulating notes of Federal reserve banks and national banks) as money on hand or on deposit in the same way and at the same rate that the State, territory, or possession taxes other forms of money. This section does not affect a law taxing national banks.

(Pub. L. 97–258, Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 992; Pub. L. 97–452, §1(22), Jan. 12, 1983, 96 Stat. 2477.)

Historical and Revision Notes
1982 Act
Revised Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large)
--- | --- | ---
5154 | 31:425, 426. | Aug. 13, 1894, ch. 281, 28 Stat. 278.

The words "United States coins and currency (including Federal reserve notes and circulating notes of Federal reserve banks and national banks)" are substituted for "Circulating notes of national banking associations and United States legal tender notes and other notes and certificates of the United States payable on demand and circulating or intended to circulate as currency and gold, silver, or other coin" in 31:425 to eliminate unnecessary words and for consistency with section 5103 of the revised title.

#### 1983 Act

This restates 31:5154 to clarify the intent of the section. See 26 Cong. Rec. 7152, 7170 (1894).

#### Editorial Notes

#### Amendments

1983—Pub. L. 97–452 substituted "other forms of money" for "United States coins and currency circulating within its jurisdiction".

#### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

#### Effective Date of 1983 Amendment

Amendment effective Sept. 13, 1982, see section 2(i) of Pub. L. 97–452, set out as a note under section 3331 of this title.

### §5155. Providing engraved plates of portraits of deceased members of Congress

On conditions the Secretary of the Treasury decides, the Secretary may send an engraved plate of a portrait of a deceased Senator or Representative to an heir or legal representative of such a Senator or Representative.

(Pub. L. 97–258, Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 993.)

Historical and Revision Notes
Revised Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large)
--- | --- | ---
5155 | 31:175. | July 1, 1916, ch. 209, §1(3d par. on p. 275), 39 Stat. 275.

The words "terms and" are omitted as being included in "conditions". The words "that have been or may be made" are omitted as unnecessary.